Bagmati Cleanup Reaches 637th Week Amid Monsoon Rains Kathmandu, Nepal

The Bagmati River Cleanup Mega Campaign marked its 637th consecutive week this Saturday, as volunteers gathered once again to clean the riverbanks near Guiheshwori in Kathmandu.

Launched over a decade ago, the campaign is widely credited with bringing qualitative improvements to the Bagmati River once infamous for pollution, unmanaged sewage flow, and unchecked human encroachment. As public outcry continues over the misuse of the river as an open drainage and the shrinking of its natural course, the campaign stands as a beacon of hope and collective civic responsibility.

Under this week’s effort, volunteers removed garbage, plastic waste, and other debris that had accumulated due to monsoon runoff, particularly in vulnerable urban zones. The area around Guiheshwori, a spiritually and ecologically significant stretch of the river, saw active participation from community members and environmental activists.

Campaigners say the visible transformation of parts of the Bagmati is a result of consistent action, community ownership, and the increasing focus on sustainable solutions such as planting native trees and grasses to reduce erosion and promote biodiversity along the river corridor.

“The Bagmati was once nearly declared dead,” said one organizer. “But the river is slowly breathing again thanks to the persistent dedication of ordinary people.”

As the movement continues to inspire similar environmental actions across the country, the 637th week serves as a reminder that restoring nature is possible one week, one tree, and one collective effort at a time.