尼泊尔军方每周五禁公车 促环保

为缓解空气污染和交通拥堵状况，尼泊尔军方日前宣布，驻加德满都的军队军官每周五都禁用公车，需步行、骑自行车或者搭乘公共交通工具上班。环保人士对此举表示欢迎，他们还督促政府机构也实施相关政策。加德满都位于一个碗型山谷中，粉尘污染程度一直较高。尼泊尔军方最高长官拉纳将军上周五率先响应政策，骑一辆山地自行车上班。他表示，此举在缓解空气污染的同时，也能培养健康的生活方式。不过，也有环保人士指出，加德满都市内没有专属的自行车道或许是推行环保出行的一个主要障碍。

Nepal's senior army officers have been ordered to ditch their cars at least once a week when coming to office - to reduce air pollution and traffic jams.

From now on, every Friday they must walk, cycle or use public transport to go to work in the capital Kathmandu.

Army chief Gen Rana set an example by riding a mountain bike from his official residence to the office.

The capital lies in a bowl-shaped valley and suffers from high levels of dust pollution.

The army move was welcomed by environmentalists, who also urged the government and NGOs to follow the suit.

Gen Rana asked all army officers - from lieutenants to generals - based within Kathmandu valley to refrain from using private vehicles on Fridays.

He said the move would also help promote healthy lifestyle.

A known cycle-enthusiast himself, Gen Rana on Friday donned cycling gear and pedalled about 3km (two miles) from his residence to the army HQ, passing through dusty and busy roads.

The army chief - who looked quite comfortable - was joined by a number of senior army officers along the way.

Gen Rana took over the reins of nearly 100,000-strong army three months ago.

Commenting on the new initiative, army spokesman Brig Gen Suresh Sharma said: "We are observing Fridays as a clean environment day."

Nepalese environment activists say the levels of dust pollution in the Kathmandu area are up to seven times higher than the permissible limit set by the country's health authorities.

While welcoming the army drive, they also point out that the lack of dedicated cycling lanes remains a major handicap to the campaign.