Public Story
Holy Waters
Bagmati is a sacred river and the main water resource of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. It originates near the settlement of Sundarijal in a hilly area north of the city.
The river, enveloping the entire capital, clearly demonstrates the ecological catastrophe caused by the urban environment. Holy cremations in the Pashupatin area, a landfill in Teku, a central market in Balaju and incessant religious holidays in Chobar area have turned Bagmati into a garbage dump for several decades. The sacred river, which receives the remains after cremations, has also become the curse of the city.
Residents of slums and areas on the banks of the polluted Bagmati are trying to earn money by recycling waste or collecting scrap metal from its bottom. People continue to live literally on garbage building houses, raising their children. This is due to the very low level of income: a house in a landfill does not require taxes. The government for some time tried to demolish the slums in Teku and relocate large families to normal housing, but plans came to naught due to a lack of money after the 2015 earthquake.
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