KATHMANDU: There is only a scant hope in resuming the collection of garbage as the stirring employees are bent on their move.

Indra Prasad Adhikari, president of the Nepal Municipal Employees Association, said they would not allow the disposal of garbage until their demands are principally agreed upon by the government.

“Even if the people are facing the stinks, we are determined to stall the collection of garbage to pressurise the government to fulfil our demands,” he added.

The collection of about 3,600 metric tonnes of garbage in the Kathmandu Valley has been stalled since Sunday following an indefinite stir of the local bodies’ employee union. “The streets are stinking but chances are slim for the resumption of garbage collection this early,” said Dr Sumitra Amatya, general manager at the Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre under the Ministry of Local Development.

She has urged the striking union to allow the collection of garbage in the interest of the general public and the possible health hazard it poses.

“The cleaners in the local bodies could not carry out their regular work, including the collection of garage today,” said Rabin Man Shrestha, chief at the Environment Management Department under the KMC.

An estimated 600 metric tonnes of garbage is generated every day in the Valley. Kathmandu alone produces at least 350 metric tonnes each day while Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur, Madhyapur Thimi and other adjoining VDCs about 250 metric tonnes.

The agitating local body employees had decided to disrupt the garbage collection of the Kathmandu Valley beginning December 20, which coincided with the three-day general strike of the UCPN Maoist.