Kathmandu, Mar. 2:Minister of State for Environment and Population Bhakta Bahadur Balayar inaugurated the three-day workshop on control of environmental pollution and implementation of the Male Declaration relating to effects of environmental pollution across the border in South Asia at a function here today.
The workshop is being attended by about 30 representatives from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, Iran, Bangladesh and international institutions.
The objective of the workshop is to hold discussions on implementing the male Declaration issued by the 7th meeting of the saarc environement ministers held in male, the capital of the Maldive in 1998.
The Male Declaration had decided to conduct a basic study on reducing environmental pollution caused by across border activities in the saarc region and implementing it gradually.
On the occasion Minister of State Balayar said that Nepal would introduce an effective programme for controlling environmental pollution in the days ahead.
Mr balayar also gave assurances of working with neighbouring countries to reduce environmental pollution.
Stating that Nepal had implemented Euro-l standards to reduce polution caused by vehicles, Mr Balayar said that
arrangements had been for all vehicles entering Nepal to meet Euro-l standard.
Secretary at the Ministry of environment and population Dr. Govinda Raj Bhatta expressed the view that contribution could be made to controlling environmental pollution if Nepal generated hydroelctricity and linked it with the regional electricity grid and other countries used it as a source of energy.
Director general of the South Asia Cooperative Environmental Programme Dr. Ananda Raj Joshi said that regional effort and an integreted approach is necessary for controlling environmental pollution in South Asia.
Unep regional director Surrendra Man Shrestha expressed satisfaction over the action plan formulated by all the countries to check environmental pollution.
The director general of icimod and the director of Stockholm Environment Institute based in the United Kingdom also expressed their views.