Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU — The government has begun installing trash barriers in the Bagmati River to collect floating waste, as part of efforts to curb river pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.
The High-Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization, operating under the Ministry of Urban Development, has started installing trash barriers at key locations along major rivers. Installation has already been completed at Guhyeshwari, while work is underway at five additional locations.
According to the committee, trash barriers are being installed at six locations in total: Gokarna Barrage, Guhyeshwari, Tilganga Eye Hospital area, Bagmati–Manohara confluence, UN Park, and the Karmanasha confluence of the Manohara River. The project is being implemented under a contract worth NPR 6.5 million, with construction progressing rapidly.
The trash barriers are designed to trap floating waste such as plastic, polythene, bottles, pieces of wood, and other debris carried on the river surface, directing them to designated collection points. Authorities say rivers such as the Bagmati, Bishnumati, Manohara, and Dhobikhola receive large volumes of floating waste due to rapid urbanization and unmanaged solid waste disposal.
Officials emphasized that the barriers are engineered to collect waste without obstructing the natural flow of the river. This allows for effective waste removal while maintaining river hydrology, contributing to reduced water pollution.
The committee said waste collected through the trash barriers will be removed regularly and managed through segregation, recycling, reuse, and safe disposal. The initiative is expected to help reduce river pollution, improve river aesthetics, protect aquatic life, and contribute positively to public health.
Technically, the trash barriers are designed with floating structures and rubber conveyor belt systems that automatically adjust up and down with fluctuations in water levels. This ensures continuous waste collection even during changes in river flow, without blocking the river channel.
The installation is part of the government’s broader effort to restore and protect rivers in the Kathmandu Valley amid growing concerns over environmental degradation and urban pollution.
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