Concerns over increased plastic pollution in Himalayas

Experts have expressed concern that the presence of micro-plastic particles in snow and water sources in the Himalayan region has contributed to the effects of climate change due to the plastic products used by mountaineers and the plastic particles blown by the wind from neighboring nations. Speakers at the event, jointly organized by the Center for Public Health and Environment Promotion, Doko Recyclers, and Blue Waste to Value, said that the state has come up with appropriate policy solutions after studying and researching the negative impact on the environment. He stressed the need to make arrangements.

Experts have also suggested that Nepal should raise the issue of increasing plastic pollution in the Himalayan region in the draft of the United Nations Convention on Plastic Pollution to be presented at the United Nations Environment Conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from February 28 to March 2 in the context of increasing global pollution problem. The fact that microplastic particles were found in a study of snow and water samples collected from Mount Everest by various international organizations a few years ago, was one of the main reasons for the growing problem of climate change in the Himalayan region.

On the occasion, Minister for Forests and Environment Ram Sahay Yadav informed that an action plan has been prepared and sent to the Council of Ministers for approval for the effective implementation of the prevention, reduction, and control of plastic pollution in Nepal. "Along with our internal efforts to prevent plastic pollution in the Himalayan region, this problem needs to be internationalized," he said.

Dr. Rabindra Dhakal, Chief Scientist, Technology Research Branch, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, said that it was necessary to study and research the pollution in the Himalayan region and find out the cause of it. Mohan Katuwal, vice-president of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, said that there should be cooperation and a common vision among individuals, organizations, and private sectors involved in import, production, sale, distribution & garbage collection, transportation, and reuse of plastics to reduce environmental pollution and health hazards.