KATHMANDU, Nepal–In a bid to ban plastic bags in the valley by December, 2015, a youth-led campaign involving volunteers from secondary schools and colleges has launched in the capital Kathmandu.
Launching the campaign, the volunteer students, representatives of various environment related organizations, newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) members among other social workers stressed the need to stop the uses of plastic bags and go for environment-friendly bags instead to make the environment of the Capital Kathmandu neat and clean. They also asked the government stop registering new plastic industries.
On the occasion, constituent assembly members Gagan Thapa and Rabindra Adhikari vowed to table a private bill in the Parliament to prohibit plastic bags in the valley if the government failed to endorse the proposed ban.
Campaign leader Shilshila Acharya pledged they do not want to leave any mess and dirt for future generations.
According to experts, a typical plastic bag which is used for just 18 minutes takes more than 100 years to decompose. As the plastic does not break down, it invites various forms of environmental challenges.
Though the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had earlier decided to ban using plastic bag to discourage its production in last June, it has not been properly implemented in daily life due to the lack of strict law and monitoring agency.
Earlier, the KMC had also launched a two week awareness program in all 35 wards for its effective implementation.
