The famous religious site of Devghat Dham was declared a plastic-free zone on Friday. The announcement was made by the Devghat Area Development Committee in collaboration with the local level and other community organizations.

The implementation of the plastic-free declaration in Devghat Dham, which is crowded during religious festivals and where people come from far away for cremation, seems to be challenging.

While the announcement program was being held at Devghat Bus Park, tea drinkers were seen throwing biscuit shells in front of the snack shop at the cremation area on the river bank below. Although the tea shop owner did not immediately say anything to the mourners, he said that he would clean up all the garbage immediately after they got up.
There are small and large iron dustbins at various places to store water bottles and other garbage. But still, water bottles were thrown sporadically.

The chief guest at the event to declare Devghat a plastic-free zone, Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal, said that its implementation was challenging. ‘We have made this announcement so that those who come here will be enchanted by the environment.’ But the implementation aspect is challenging. Individuals must pledge to implement it,' said Mayor Dahal.

She said that Bharatpur Metropolitan City has included a plan in its policy and program to make Devghatdham a plastic-free zone. Mayor Dahal pledged that the metropolis will support and provide budget for the implementation.

Devghat Rural Municipality Chairman Til Bahadur Thapa said that the rural municipality will make the plastic-free zone campaign effective by enacting a law. He said that only plastic bags with a thickness below 40 microns have been banned and littering has been stopped. 'We still have a lot to do in Devghat. We have to make the religious area odor-free and green. Right now, we are focusing especially on the riverside area. All areas of Devghat should be kept clean. The rural municipality is committed to this,' said Chairman Til Bahadur Thapa.

Among the various ashrams in Devghat, Pithadhish Gyanananda Saraswati of Harihar Sanyas Ashram said that everyone should be involved in its implementation. 'It is not enough to just speak at meetings. The government should do everything so that we stay healthy.' Everyone from the government to the general public must be committed to this,' he said. 'When we see that the world is becoming a pile of plastic, everyone must immediately wake up against it. Otherwise, the earth cannot be kept healthy and energetic.'

Devghat has been declared plastic-free under the 'Nadi Naksha Hami' project run by Gaindakot's social organization Santhi with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal. During the program, WWF Nepal representative Karun Dewan said that while analyzing the garbage from eight places in Narayani from Devghat to Golaghat, a lot of plastic was found. ‘The condition of Narayani is also deteriorating due to plastic. That is why this campaign has been started. Religion keeps people disciplined. The message of this campaign in the religious sector seems to be going effectively all over the country,’ said Dewan.
Devghat Area Development Committee member Chandramitra Pandit requested those coming to Devghat from home and abroad not to bring plastic thinking that they are going to a plastic-prohibited area. Committee chairman Ishwori Raj Laudari said that the Area Development Committee has started a plastic-free campaign in collaboration with Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Tanahun Rural Municipality and Gaindakot Municipality.