KATHMANDU, AUGUST 13

Following widespread pressure from all sectors, Kathmandu Metropolitan City today mobilised hundreds of security force around Bancharedanda Sanitary Landfill Site to transport Kathmandu's waste there.

At least 500 security personnel were mobilised around the landfill site that covers 40 hectare land. Police were mobilised around the tops of every small hill from where protesting locals usually pelted stones at sanitary workers and vehicles. Locals in the area also informed that police were mobilised around private houses, fields and all gathering points in the Bancharedanda area to stop vehicles ferrying waste.

KMC claimed that nearly 200 trucks transported waste today, dumping the highest volume of waste in over a month. 'We will continue to transport waste, and we now aim to remove all the waste from the city areas first,' said Sarita Rai of the environment department of KMC.

Kathmandu's waste has not been managed on a regular basis for over three months largely due to the protest of local people. After making a pact with the government on June 7, the locals had allowed the KMC to dump waste unhindered.

However, the incessant monsoon rains hindered waste management due to bad road condition. Meanwhile, some people vandalised vehicles transporting waste about a week ago, despite the agreement. This resulted in sporadic or no waste management in the area.

Kathmandu valley produces over 1,200 metric tonnes of garbage on a daily basis. Over 300 trucks are used to transport waste to the landfill site.

However, not a single truck had reached the site over a period of two weeks during the monsoon season. This had resulted in the accumulation of large piles of waste on the roadside and corners in Kathmandu valley.

Moreover, people residing in Kathmandu are forced to manage waste inside their own houses. This has burdened those living in rented rooms or apartments as they do not have open space to manage waste.

Even if the KMC succeeds in collecting waste on the roadside in the next few days, it is not sure when they will be able to collect waste from households on a regular basis like in earlier days.

The challenge is sure to mount as the locals have set a deadline of August 17 to fulfil their demands before managing waste at the landfill site.

'We are adamant that not a single truck will enter the landfill side from August 17 if the government keeps on showing indifference to our demands,' said Ram Hari Ghimire of Sisdol who has been putting forth the demand for creating a buffer zone of the landfill site by acquiring their lands.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 14, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.