KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 19

After Kathmandu Metropolitan City failed to collect household waste for the last few days, it urged Kathmandu's denizens to manage biodegradable waste at their homes. Managing garbage has become an uphill task for the local government in the capital.

The metropolis, issuing a notice, called for support from the people. A statement issued by the environment department of the metropolis said, 'Currently, all the people of the valley are requested to manage trash from their homes, shops, industries, businesses and offices on their own.'

Such calls are not new as KMC has already started a campaign urging locals to segregate waste and reuse or recycle before dumping.

This rule, however, has not yielded any positive changes in the habit of Kathmanduties.

Garbage has been accumulating on the roadside in Kathmandu for the past few days after vehicles carrying waste were barred from entering the Sisdole Landfill Site in Nuwakot district around 18 kilometres west of the valley.

Protest of the locals residing around the Sisdole site and obstruction of vehicles carrying waste is not very uncommon. However, this time the obstruction is being created by the locals of Madkhu-Tinpiple road section in Kathmandu district. They have not allowed vehicles carrying waste to cross Madkhu area saying that the government has not implemented the agreement to blacktop the road as per the agreement.

Locals had, a couple of years ago, demanded that the government blacktop the road in a bid to allow heavy trucks transporting waste on that road segment.

But, confusion over the authority has delayed the process.

The agreement was inked with the Kathmandu metropolis, but it now says that it is the responsibility of the federal government to build the highway. The road is also a major connecting route to Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

Saroj Basnet, head of urban development of KMC, told THT that the construction of that road falls under the jurisdiction of the central government.

'Looks like the federal government is now taking it seriously as the Office of the Prime Minister has called us to discuss the matter at the ministry and we hope the problem will be resolved soon,' Basnet told THT over phone.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 20, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.