Kathmandu, Jan. 29 -- River conservation activist Megh Ale has begun a relay hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala, demanding that river rights, protection and constitutional obligations be ensured in Nepal.

Ale launched the protest under the banner of the 'Save Rivers, Save the Nation Campaign' on January 26. The hunger strike seeks to build pressure on political parties and candidates to include river conservation as a core agenda in their election manifestos.

"No political party has raised this issue as its agenda," Ale said. "Such a sensitive national infrastructure issue-rivers-has been viewed only as a source of gravel and sand, hydropower generation, or waste disposal. I am on hunger strike so that candidates understand this issue b...