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Mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, has been staging a sit-in protest at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, for the past three days, demanding federal support for the promotion and use of bamboo, a locally available and eco-friendly resource.
“Despite repeated requests for support in promoting bamboo, the federal government has remained indifferent,” said Bhattarai. “Therefore, I will begin a fast-unto-death starting tomorrow.”
Bhattarai said the Ministry of Forest and Environment made an informal approach on Tuesday, requesting him to call off the protest. However, he insists that a formal response and negotiation team from the federal government is necessary before he halts his campaign.
A strong advocate for the use of bamboo in rural development and environmental sustainability, Mayor Bhattarai has been protesting daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. near Singha Durbar, the central administrative complex of Nepal.
“My campaign is not just for one municipality or community-it is a national issue,” he said. “The federal government must create a favorable environment to promote the use of sustainable, eco-friendly materials like bamboo.”
Mayor Bhattarai has submitted a seven-point demand to the federal government. Key among them is the removal of legal barriers that currently restrict the use of bamboo in furniture and construction. He also calls for a policy-level decision mandating the promotion and use of bamboo across all local levels.
Additionally, Bhattarai demands that plastic-producing companies be required to pay a 10% tax to local governments. He has urged the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Industry, and their subordinate offices to make it mandatory to adopt environmentally friendly materials, including bamboo, in their operations.
On Tuesday, environmental activist Sundar Khanal visited Maitighar Mandala to express solidarity with Bhattarai. “The demands raised by Mayor Bhattarai are for the benefit of the entire nation,” he said. “Nepal can learn from neighboring countries, where modern bamboo technology has unlocked vast economic opportunities. The federal government must act now to empower local levels to promote bamboo.”
Similar support came from Dr. Annapurna Nand Das, a former government secretary and bamboo expert. “Countries like India and the Philippines mandate the use of locally available resources, including bamboo,” he noted. “Nepal also has a bamboo promotion strategy, but implementation remains weak.”
Dr. Das emphasized that most of Bhattarai’s demands are practical and enforceable. “Banning bamboo from use in the national building code is a troubling issue. Mayor Bhattarai’s campaign to promote indigenous resources is both timely and commendable.”
Earlier this year, Bhattarai’s municipality hosted a three-day National Bamboo Conference in Khotang. The event concluded with a 35-point declaration urging all stakeholders to promote bamboo use and reduce plastic consumption to help protect the environment.
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