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| Kathmandu, Friday June 06, 2003 Jestha 23, 2060. |
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Crown Prince gives away
environment awards
Post Report
KATHMANDU, June 5 : World Environmental Day was
observed in the capital today with different programmes organised at the governmental and
non-governmental level, which featured award distributions to conservationists, awareness
programmes and environment-related exhibitions.
Ministry of Environment and Population organised
a programme-cum-exhibition at the Birendra International Convention Centre, which was
inaugurated by Crown Prince Paras.
On the occasion, the Crown Prince gave away
environment awards and letters of appreciation to different individuals and organisations
working in the field of environment in the country.
Huta Ram Baidya, Dr J. Gabriel Campbell,
Director General of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal
Environmental and Scientific Services Pvt. Ltd., Save the Environment Foundation, The
Explore Group Nepal, Environment Conservation Society and World Wildlife Fund for Nature
Conservation Nepal Programme (WWF) were the awardees. The Crown Prince also inaugurated a
three-day environment-related exhibition at the premises of the Birendra International
Convention Centre.
Similarly, WWF Nepal Programme Office, while
marking Environment Day, today honoured 6 individuals and 4 institutions for their
contribution in the field of environment conservation, with the Abraham Conservation
Award. Those honoured at the programme were Lama Karma Sonam Rimpoche of Manang, Huta Ram
Baidya, Inspector Arun Kumar Shah, Ram Prasad Lamsal, Diwakar Prasad Chapagain and Yugal
Kishor Thakur.
Likewise, four institutions recognised at the
function attended by diplomats, high-ranking government and security officers,
conservationists and journalists were Kailali-based Radhakrishna Community Forest Users
Group; Women Environment Preservation Committee, Lalitpur; Dudhkunda Community Forest
Users Group of Solukhumbu and Taplejung-based Omi Khangri Mother Group.
The award, established by WWF US board-member
Nancy Abraham in 1995, carries a purse of Rs 25,000 for an individual, and Rs 50,000 for
institutions.
Similarly, The World Conservation Union today
observed Environment Day by organising awareness programmes at Lalitpur, according to a
press statement. Meanwhile, NGO Forum for Urban Sanitation and Environment today organised
a public hearing on pollution in the Bagmati River to mark the day.
Taking part in the public hearing, participants
vented their plight caused by the pollution of the Bagmati river. They were critical of
the rich people of Kathmandu, whom they held responsible for the deplorable situation of
the river.
"Just 22 kilometer south of downtown
Kathmandu, we farmers are being threatened by pollution in the Bagmati river. We are
getting less produce from our farming and some land has turned barren," said Shree
Ram Acharya, a farmer from Chobhar at the public hearing on Water of Bagmati. The
programme was organised by NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, a non-government
organisation.
He went on, "Local Danuwars are being
replaced as their age-old profession of fishing came to an end with the pollution of the
river. We should now raise our voice to force policy-makers to formulate policies
guaranteeing justice to us," he fumed.
Acharya was representing thousands of farmers,
affected by the pollution of the Bagmati river, who depend on the waters of the Bagmati
for farming. Besides farmers, squatters residing close to the banks of the river also
suffer due to the pollution in the river. They said that the water they used for household
purposes, was from the Bagmati river. Their only source of water, the Bagmati has turned
into sewage.
"It is the rich who are polluting the
river, and we have to bear the brunt of pollution," said Bambai Lama, a squatter
woman.
Prakash Mani Sharma of Pro-Public was of the
opinion that the situation of the river has not changed at all despite millions of rupees
being funnelled into in the name of combating pollution in the river. Other participants
of the programme underlined the need to create pressure from civil society against the
pathetic situation of the river. They were critical of the government for not being
serious in implementing existing environmental laws and regulations.
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