Kathmandu, April 20

Two local governments surrounding the country's only Bancharedanda Landfill site, Dhunibesi Municipality of Dhading and Kakani Rural Municipality of Nuwakot have jointly given a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government and Kathmandu Metropolitan City to fullfil their demands.

A meeting between the local government heads, along with ward chairs of the affected area, locals and stakeholders decided to resort to struggle if the government does not start working to meet the agreement sealed last year. They have said if the government does not show initiative to address the agreement, they will be forced to obstruct the operation of the landfill site.

Last year during the monsoon, people living around the landfill site had for months obstructed vehicles ferrying Kathmandu's waste to the landfill site.

Not a single truck was allowed to enter the landfill site for almost a month, forcing Kathmandu residents to dump garbage on the roadside.

Following the stern protest of locals and multiple clashes against hundreds of riot police deployed around the Sisdol area, the government had agreed to fulfil several demands of locals by mid-May.

As the deadline is approaching, the local governments and people suspect the government will turn its back to the agreement this time as well, like in the previous years.

The locals said the government had cheated them on earlier occasions. Only around a month ago, locals had sent a letter to the Office of Prime Minister, Ministry of Urban Development, and Kathmandu Metropolitan City reminding them of their promises. But, they have not given any reply.

Owing to the indifferent nature of the federal government, the local governments today forwarded a seven-point demand around a month before the end of agreement period.

Of the major demands, the locals have asked the government to identify the actual area affected by the landfill site around two kilometre and acquire that land. It also reminded that the government had to invest Rs 100 million in the affected wards to improve physical infrastructure, education, employment, and health security of the locals. They have also asked government to take back all legal charges slapped on the locals during the protest.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.