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The Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign, which was launched 12 years ago to restore the sanctity of the Bagmati River, has reached its 623rd week. Meanwhile, the government’s broader project to ensure a sewage-free Bagmati near the Pashupatinath area has completed 29 years. 

Yet, despite an investment of over Rs 18bn, the river remains heavily polluted and the project goals are far from achieved. While volunteers continue to clean up the river every Saturday, sewage continues to flow directly into the Bagmati, and solid waste dumping along the riverbanks has not stopped. This contradiction underscores the limitations of existing efforts.

To preserve the civilization that once flourished along the Bagmati, the government first formed the Pashupati Area Environment Improvement and Monitoring Committee in 1994, later upgraded in 2007 to the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee. In 2010, a Bagmati Action Plan was also introduced. The current clean-up drive began on 19 May 2013, with the ambitious goal of making the river suitable for ritual bathing once again. 

The campaign, launched under the leadership of then-Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal with the slogan “Two Hours for the Nation,” has seen the participation of over 1.5m volunteers and the removal of more than 20,000 tons of waste. But despite this massive civic effort, the river remains far from clean.

To prevent direct sewage discharge, a wastewater treatment plant was set up in Guheshwori with a total investment of Rs 2.55bn, including a loan of Rs 1.4bn from the Asian Development Bank. Its primary objective was to make the river near Pashupati suitable for ritual bathing. 

However, the plant has failed to demonstrate significant results. Once a sacred and culturally rich river, the Bagmati has now deteriorated to the status of a dying river. It flows through the heart of the Kathmandu Valley and should be closely tied to people’s daily lives. Instead, its foul smell caused by pollution disrupts urban life.

Despite park development and tree plantation efforts along riverbanks in areas like Gokarna, Koteshwor, Shankhamul, and Teku, proper sewage management remains lacking. Unplanned urbanization, industrial discharge, and plastic waste continue to degrade the river’s existence day by day. Efforts by both governmental and non-governmental bodies have so far failed to produce meaningful change. 

Experts say that effective collaboration between individuals, local governments, provincial authorities, and the federal government is crucial. To revive the Bagmati, the dumping of waste must be strictly prohibited, water flow needs to be increased, and a systematic sewage management system must be implemented. Only then can this river, which flows through the capital, become a center of environmental and touristic attraction.

Wheat is Nepal’s third most important food crop after rice and maize. As a globally significant cereal crop, wheat is Nepal’s most important winter crop. It is a major source of calories and protein. Wheat cultivation in Nepal spans from the Tarai plains to the high hills. In the fiscal year 2022/23, wheat was cultivated on 716,978 hectares of land in Nepal, yielding 2,144,568 metric tons of production. Currently, the average wheat productivity in Nepal stands at 2.99 metric tons per hectare.

Although both the area under wheat cultivation and overall production have increased in recent years, the import of wheat, wheat seeds, and wheat-based products has not declined. According to data from the Department of Customs, in the first four months of the current fiscal year alone, Nepal imported 20,279 metric tons of wheat-based products worth Rs 986.7m.

In the previous fiscal year, Nepal had imported 10,112 metric tons of such products, spending Rs 684.38m. In fiscal year 2021/22, 24,785 metric tons were imported, amounting to Rs 1.16m.

Currently, fields in the Helambu and Panchpokhari Thangpal rural municipalities of Sindhupalchok district are lush green with wheat crops. A local resident mentioned that the major food crops in that area include potatoes, wheat, maize, and millet.

Rhododendrons have turned the hilly forests red this season. The forests and settlements in Kathmandu Valley and the hilly regions of the country are adorned with colorful rhododendrons of various species, creating a vibrant and picturesque landscape.

In the Gupsipakha area of Dharche Rural Municipality in Gorkha district, the blooming rhododendrons have added a red hue to the green forests, enhancing their beauty and attracting more tourists to the region.  

This area is home to different varieties of rhododendrons, including red, pink, white, and yellow species. Located in the remote northern part of the district, the lush green hills and blooming rhododendrons not only draw tourists but also enhance the region’s charm.  

According to botanists, rhododendrons are found at altitudes ranging from 1,300 to 4,600 meters above sea level. Traditionally, they bloom in early spring (March), but due to the impacts of climate change, they have started flowering as early as January and February.

Rhododendron trees can grow anywhere between 10 centimeters to 30 meters tall. With over 1,000 species found worldwide, rhododendrons hold a significant place in global flora.

Despite advancements in energy access, more than half of Nepal’s households still rely on firewood for cooking, according to the final results of the National Census 2021. Out of 6.66m households nationwide, 51 percent frequently use firewood as their primary cooking fuel.   However, the data shows a decline in firewood usage compared to the 2011 census, which reported that 64 percent of households used firewood. The latest figures indicate a 13 percent decrease over the past decade. Meanwhile, 44.3 percent of households now use liquefied petroleum (LP) gas for cooking.  

The use of household energy varies by geography. Approximately 20 percent of homes rely on modern energy sources such as electricity and LP gas for cooking, while 80 percent still use traditional fuels like firewood, agricultural residues, and dung cakes. Access to electricity also varies significantly. While 99 percent of households in the Tarai region are connected to the national grid, only 32 percent of homes in the Himalayan region have grid electricity. As a result, many families in the hills and mountains depend on forests for energy needs.  

A survey conducted by the International Development Association (IDA) in 2022 found that 80 percent of rural households and 44.6 percent of urban households still used firewood for cooking. In contrast, LP gas was used in 89 percent of urban households and 57.3 percent of rural households.   Additionally, 17.4 percent of rural households and 5.4 percent of urban households use agricultural residues and dung cakes as fuel. Electricity is used for cooking in 7.3 percent of rural households and 14 percent of urban households.  

Regionally, firewood remains the dominant household fuel. In the Himalayan region, 96 percent of households use firewood for cooking, followed by 79 percent in the Tarai and 65.5 percent in the hills. Overall, firewood accounts for 84.9 percent of Nepal’s total household energy consumption.  

The heavy reliance on firewood raises concerns about deforestation, air pollution, and health risks from indoor smoke exposure. Expanding access to clean energy sources such as LP gas, electricity, and renewable alternatives could significantly improve household energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in Nepal.