Kathmandu, Apr. 22 :The Earth Day 2000 Nepal Committee organised an environment self-awareness rally here today.

A large number of people representing more than 50 organisations working environment conservation, school and college students and members of the general public had participated in the rally.

The rally starting from Sundhara went through new road, Bir Hospital, Jamal, Ghantaghar and dispersed on reaching Bhrikuti Mandap.

More than 50 safa tempos, battery-run vehicles, were also a part of the rally expressing solidarity for clean energy.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Population and Environment Shivaraj Joshi gave away prizes and certificates to winners of the inter-school painting and essay competition organised to mark World Earth Day.

On the occasion, Mr. Joshi was also handed over a civic report relating to the environment prepared on the basis of interactions with local people and studies.

Meanwhile in Bhaktapur President of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and MP Narayan Man Bijukche said students should play a role in closing down polluting industries in order to keep the environment of their school sorrounding clean and green.

MP Bijuckhe was addressing a programme organised following a rally organised by the school environment club coordination committee, Bhaktapur to mark the Earth Day 2000.

Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality Prem Suwal and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by the committee chairman Gautam Shrestha.

Prior to this, students from about 20 schools in the district had taken out an environment awareness rally with the slogan “Healthy Air: everyone’s right”.