Chitwan, Dec. 14 -- A campaign to declare Devghat Dham, one of the country's most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites, a plastic-free zone has been launched. The local governments, civil society groups and the locals have pledged stricter waste management and regular monitoring to make the plan a success.

"We are preparing to formally declare Devghat Dham a plastic-free area very soon," said Ishwari Raj Laudari, chairperson of the Devghat Area Development Committee. "Even after the declaration, we will carry out continuous monitoring to ensure compliance."

Devghat Dham is the tri-junction of Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi East districts. It lies at the confluence of the Kaligandaki, which originates at Damodarkunda, and the Trishuli river,...