KATHMANDU: Despite an agreement to install a mobile toilet each month in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, only one exists in the metropolis in four months' period.

An agreement between the KMC and Kathmandu Solid Waste Management Service, a private firm, was signed on April 4 to set up a mobile toilet every month in ten over-crowded places of Kathmandu such as New Bus Park, Old Bus Park, Sundhara, New Baneshwor, Basantapur, Thamel, Kalanki and Koteshwor.

Agreeing that there had been delays in the project, Basudev Uprety, proprietor, KSWMS, said, "We are preparing to install another in Kalanki within a month."

The first mobile toilet was set up on April 5 in Tundikhel, which was later moved to Basantapur. Each such toilet costs about Rs 800,000. Uprety said that everything except the steel pan was available here and that a mobile toilet can be built in 25 days by two workers.

He, however, said the workers were taking at least three months to construct one. "Balaju Yantrashala took five months to prepare the first toilet. What can we do if the workers linger construction?" he wondered. Another toilet was prepared at a workshop in Teku.

Rabin Man Shrestha, chief, Environment Division, KMC, admitted that the installation had not gone as agreed. "However, the company will be allowed to continue the job, as the delay was largely on part of the workers."

KSWMS pays KMC Rs 2,100 each month. "Each toilet earns us from Rs 30,000 to 50,000 per month," said elated Uprety, promising to set up more in future.

UNESCO writ against facility

KATHMANDU: UNESCO has written to the KMC to remove the mobile toilet from Basantapur, a World Heritage Site. "We received a letter from the UNESCO on Wednesday," said Rabin Man Shrestha, chief, Environment Division, KMC. "We are looking for another location. It will be kept around Basantapur or New Road," he added. — HNS