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On the
auspicious occasion of “World tourism Day 2009’’ a
one day workshop on Waste Management issues in
tourism destination’s was organized in Nagarkot,
where various tourism professionals, academics,
journalists and entrepreneurs were present and
expressed their views and concerns regarding waste
management issues faced in the tourism sector.
“Waste
has become a serious problem in all of Nepal’s
tourist destinations and is more alarming in hill
stations such as Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Chisapani,
Manakamana, Tansen, Jiri and Namche bazaar etc, as
these areas lie at high altitude and have
comparatively low temperatures throughout the year,
resulting in limited opportunity for the natural
decomposition of wastes.” Says Arun Kumar Shrestha,
the President of Nepal Environment and Tourism
Initiative Foundation (NETIF). Mr. Shrestha, further
added that a single institution/person cannot
mitigate the problem of wastes and there are no
other alternatives than to work together and make a
combined effort so that it can be minimized.
Similarly, Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, the Vice
Chancellor of Kathmandu University stressed that the
entrepreneurs should not be too smart only in making
money from tourism, rather, they should also take
into consideration the environment, health and
sanitation of the area where they are operating
their business. Likewise, Professor Sanjay Khanal,
from the Central Department of Environment Science,
Kathmandu University highlighted the government
policies and acts related to waste management in
Nepal, and made a presentation on the case study of
waste management in Sagarmatha National park.
Prof. Ananda Shova Tamrakar from the Central
Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University made a
presentation on vermi-composting as an appropriate
tool to manage kitchen wastes. Mr. Nawal Kishor
Mishra, from Department of Water Supply and Sewage
made a vivid presentation on Waste Management-
Methods, Tools and Techniques. Ramesh Shrestha from
the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan
University stressed on the combine efforts of
stakeholders to manage wastes along trekking trails.
Mr. Bijaya Pradhan, Ex. Chairman of Dream Nepal
Travel and Tours and present Chairman of Discover
Nepal (NGO) suggested Nagarkot Naldum Tourism
Committee (NNTDC) to develop a ‘Code of Conducts in
Environmental Issues’ so as to protect the degrading
environment of Nagarkot.
Mr. Prasum Bajacharya made a presentation on the Bio
Gas Plant as a tool to manage wastes. Likewise,
research trainees, Isha Manandahr and Deepa Tuldhar
from Kathmandu University made a presentation on the
existing waste management situation and about the
problems and opportunities in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel.
The other participants in the workshop were the
participants were from the Government of Nepal,
Department of Sanitation, Kathmandu Metropolitan,
Dhulikhel Municipality, Hotel Association of Nepal
(HAN), TAAN, NATA, PATA-Nepal, RAHAN, NTB, BTDC,
NPDC,DDC Kathmandu, DDC Kavre, KMC, Dream Nepal
Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd. and Discover Nepal.
The ultimate aim of the workshop was to create an
atmosphere where all the stakeholders can work in a
consolidated form to create a solid platform to
manage the waste in Nagarkot and other similar hill
stations of Nepal. The workshop was a regular
activity of Nepal Environment and Tourism Initiative
Foundation, which has been developing cultural
trekking routes around the Kathmandu valley with the
support of Suomen Latu -Finland. So far NETIF has
established tourist rest shelters, community houses,
waste collectors, incinerators, trekking trail
promotion activities such as route marking signage
etc. NETIF works through local partners called
Tourism Development Committees along the trekking
trail and has already implemented village clean up
campaigns, trainings on waste management, tourism
based business, micro enterprises development,
handicrafts production, organic farming and other
various capacity building trainings in the
communities around the trekking trail.
The workshop was concluded by the formation of task
force to manage the waste in Nagarkot. The program
was conducted under the Chairmanship of Arun
Shrestha, the President of NETIF and was hosted by
Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Development Committee where
as Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, the Vice Chancellor was
the chief guest of the program. Likewise, World
Tourism Day was also observed in Mulkharka,
Dhulikhel and Panauti in the initiation of NETIF
through community cleanup campaign, tree plantation
and workshop on organic farming.
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