Bagmati River rafting event held to raise public awareness

Kathmandu / Aug 25: The 18th Bagmati River Festival and River Rafting has been organized in a bid to raise public awareness for conservation of river civilization.

The rafting was organized by Nepal River Conservation Association and Friends’ Club of Kupandol. Eighteen boats were used in the rafting trip from Kupandol to Sundarighat.

Minister for Forest and Environment, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, inaugurated the river rafting. He informed that 2075 was announced as the Sanitation Year. “If the river is clean, it could be utilized for tourism promotion,” he said, adding that it however seeks supports from all sides.

In a symbolic message of cleanliness, water from various 18 rivers across the country was mixed in the Bagmati River before initiating rafting.

Senior journalist Bhairab Risal however complained that the government could not do up to the mark in terms of river conservation which was initiated by Bhagawan Das Manandhar and Hutaram Vaidya.

Similarly, lawmakers Pampha Bhushal and Tejulal Chaudhari also seconded the Minister that assistance from all sectors were imperative to restore the beauty of Bagmati River. RSS