On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, the Eco Circle of Khwopa College of Engineering participated in a two-day environmental initiative in line with the global theme “Beat Plastic Pollution.” The program included field-based community involvement and on-campus awareness activities designed to promote sustainable practices among students and the broader community.

On June 5, members of the Eco Circle joined the Bhaktapur Municipality’s cleaning program at Muhan Pokhari, one of the major drinking water sources for Bhaktapur city. The primary aim of the activity was to remove plastic waste and other pollutants that threaten the ecological health of this vital water body.

Wearing gloves and equipped with cleaning tools, the student from Khwopa College of Engineering actively contributed to the protection of the municipality’s essential water supply. The initiative helped raise awareness among participants about the importance of preserving freshwater sources in urban environments.

Building on the momentum of environmental engagement, the Eco Circle organized a focused awareness program on June 6 at Hall No. 3 of Khwopa College of Engineering. The event featured a guest session by Meera Prajapati, a faculty member from Khwopa College, who delivered an insightful talk centered on the global theme “Beat Plastic Pollution.”

She elaborated on how plastic pollution causes severe ecological harm and threatens the integrity of natural ecosystems. She emphasized that plastic waste contaminates crucial freshwater sources and damages biodiversity, posing significant environmental and public health challenges. Addressing this complex problem requires a collective effort from engineers and society to promote sustainable material use, effective waste management, and responsible design practices.

To deepen this understanding, the session was followed by the screening of the documentary “Melting Glaciers - A Climate Crisis in the Himalayas” by DW, which portrayed the tangible impacts of environmental change and pollution on Nepal’s high-altitude communities.

The documentary vividly illustrates how climate change, fueled partly by human activities such as plastic pollution, is melting Himalayan glaciers, leading to water scarcity and forcing communities like Samdzong village in Upper Mustang to relocate. This loss of stable water sources and terrain instability disrupts daily life, livelihoods, and cultural heritage, making the climate crisis deeply personal and urgent.

The session was concluded with a token of appreciation presented to Meera Prajapati by the Vice Principal of Khwopa College of Engineering, Er. Ratna Shova Prajapati, in recognition of her valuable insights.