KATHMANDU — The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has announced a new ambitious drive to plant 100,000 saplings annually across the city, taking a more organized approach to ensure successful green initiatives.
The Park and Greenery Management Project under the KMC has already begun the campaign by planting 110 saplings along the newly-opened side road between Koteshwar and Jadibuti.
Navaraj Thapa, chief of the Greenery Project, which was established five months ago, stated, “We initially planted two species, Kapur and Swami, in this area, and we plan to expand this drive to all 32 wards of the city.”
This is not the first time the KMC has undertaken such an initiative. In 2018, the metropolis instructed ward chairpersons and community representatives to plant saplings on World Environment Day. Despite the plan to plant 1,500 saplings in open spaces, the drive did not succeed due to a lack of proper care and supervision.
In September 2019, the City collaborated with the Nepal Army and the Department of Environment to plant 500 saplings along the Tripureshwar-Durbar Marg stretch, aiming to promote urban greenery. However, the plants withered within weeks due to neglect.
Deepak Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the KMC, assured that this time the city’s approach would be different. The KMC is working with organizations such as the Lions Club and the Rotary Club to plant saplings in open spaces. Adhikari emphasized that only plant species capable of thriving in Kathmandu’s climate would be selected for the initiative.
Six months after Balendra Shah became the Kathmandu mayor in December 2022, the KMC established a dedicated Greenery Management Project, taking over the responsibility of maintaining green spaces in the metropolis from the Environment Division.
This year, the KMC has allocated Rs800,000 to purchase saplings, according to a municipal official.
To ensure a more practical and efficient approach, the City plans to conduct a thorough study before planting saplings, focusing on open spaces and wide footpaths without obstructing pedestrians. The project office will engage a botanist to assist in species selection, determine suitable plantation areas, and ensure proper nurturing.
Urban planner Suman Maher Shrestha suggested that the KMC consider planting fruit-bearing trees, flowers, and bushes along roadsides without disrupting traffic flow. He also emphasized the importance of managing greenery growth and expansion to coexist harmoniously with vehicular and pedestrian movements.
The commendable greenery belt maintained between Maitighar and Tinkune serves as an example of successful green initiatives. Shrestha added that the KMC should continue managing green spaces in a manner that does not inconvenience commuters or impede urban activities.
