KATHMANDU: The talks held between the government and Sisdole locals over a garbage dumping row ended inconclusively today after

the latter sought a written commitment to fulfil their demand. Disposal of garbage piling up

on the Valley streets for the

last 10 days is unlikely to begin before Friday.

Okharpauwa locals disrupted garbage disposal at Aletar Landfill Site today demanding construction of a bridge and blacktopping the 3-km road linking Ratomate with Galchhi in Dhading district.

“We will obstruct dumping until our demands are addressed,” said Laxman Ghimire, a leader of the protesters. “We were invited for a talk with the Minister for Local Development but other ministry officials appeared at the table,” he said.

Trucks ferrying garbage to the landfill site were forced to return today, said Rabin Man Shrestha, chief, Environment Management Department, Kathmandu Metropolitan City. “We are effortful to end the row through talks,” he added.

A resident of Okharpauwa-5, Ghimire yesterday threatened over phone to disrupt garbage disposal from today. Garbage collection, disrupted since December 20, resumed only yesterday after an agreement with agitating local body unions on Sunday. More than 5,000 metric tonnes of garbage remains on the Valley streets. Only about 450 metric tonnes can be disposed on a normal day. Dr Sumitra Amatya, general manager, SWMRMC, said the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance had permitted Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to allocate Rs 25 million for the development of Sisdole area. “It will take at least two months to design the project. Only then can the bids be invited,” she said, adding that another round of talks would be held on Thursday. “If the talks end the row, garbage disposal can resume on Friday,” she added. Ghimire said they would sit for talks on Thursday.

“We will send the trucks to Aletar for disposal tomorrow as well,” said Amatya. “We are considering disposing garbage even by imposing a curfew,” she added.