Kathmandu, August 4
Mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Tirtharaj Bhattarai, ended his hunger strike on Sunday.
Mayor Bhattarai had been staging a hunger strike at Maitighar, Kathmandu, since July 30, demanding the promotion and consumption of bamboo products and other locally available agricultural goods.
He broke his fast after an agreement was reached in the presence of Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel and Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri.
According to the agreement, the Ministry of Urban Development will finalize the bamboo building code to facilitate the use of bamboo in construction. Similarly, Khotang district will be declared a bamboo hub and promoted as a zone for bamboo research and development.
The agreement also includes giving top priority to the procurement of bamboo products in agencies under the Ministry of Forest and Environment during the first phase, along with the implementation of government-approved guidelines for the purchase and use of domestic products.
Earlier, Mayor Bhattarai had submitted a seven-point demand to the federal government. This included removing legal restrictions on the use of bamboo in furniture and construction, and adopting policy-level decisions to promote the multi-purpose use of bamboo, thereby compelling local governments to adopt and promote bamboo-based practices.
He also demanded that plastic companies be required to pay a 10 percent tax to local governments.
