A proposal to empower the panel is, however, yet to be approved of. According to the HLCSWM, a proposal was tabled last month in the Cabinet to empower the committee to call Expression of Interest (EOI) from interested private sector parties to set up the plant.

"The Cabinet has permitted us to deal with the private sector," said Dr Sumitra Amatya, General Manager, Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre under Ministry of Local Development.

"We need to undertake every process through the MoLD since it is eligible to sign the agreement with the private sector," she added. The law

authorises the MoLD to decide the matter and sign a deal on garbage management with the private sector.

The government has included the plan to set up a garbage-fuelled plant in its current fiscal budget. "We will invite EOIs soon," said Amatya.