February 24: The Nepalese Army is preparing to launch the “Clean Mountain Campaign – 2022”. The campaign is to be launched with the budget managed by the Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board and Department of Forest and Environment. The aim is to clean four mountains with the involvement of 91 people. Among them, 29 people will be from the Nepalese Army, 48 Sherpas and other coordination committee members and 14 from Rear Operations Group.

The Nepalese Army organized a program in Kathmandu on Tuesday to inform about the campaign. The army informed that garbage from Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse, Mt Kanchenjunga and Mt Manaslu would be collected and managed properly under this campaign.

Major Kishor Adhikari, who climbed Mt Everest in 2013, said that the plan is to start the campaign from May. He also informed that the aim is to collect 35 tons of garbage from the above the base camp and nearby areas.

On the occasion, the army informed that the government has provided Rs 83 million for the campaign, although a budget of Rs 139.6 million is required. Out of the remaining budget of Rs 46.6 million, the army will manage Rs 13 million and the rest will be sought from other sources. Earlier, the government had allocated Rs 100 million for the “Clean Mountain Campaign – 2021”.

The campaign was initiated in 2019. Presenting the work plan of the campaign, the official said that the campaign aims to reduce the impact of pollution and climate change on the environment, help the government to increase economic activities in the mountain areas, attract tourists as well as mountaineers and protect the mountains for future generations as well.