KATHMANDU: After the streets in the Valley began permeating nasty smell due to piles of garbage strewn everywhere, government officials have expedited process to look for an alternative landfill site.

A government team comprising representatives of Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre, Ministry of Local Development, KMC and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City today inspected the prospective site in Tusal area of Kirtipur in the Valley. “We visited the area and discussed alternative dumping site in the area with the locals,” said Rabin Man Shrestha, chief, Environment Section, KMC.

After constantly harried by residents of Sisdole — the only landfill site to dump garbage produced in the valley — the stakeholders have been on a look out for alternatives.

Shrestha said that the locals were positive towards allowing the Valley garbage to be dumped in the area.

“We discussed the issue and reached a conclusion to carry out preliminary study to proceed with it,” he said, adding, “We’ll begin study shortly and prepare a report based on legal and environmental perspectives. Then only, the work for the alternative site will begin.”

The garbage collection and disposal have been stalled following obstruction by Sisdole locals since Thursday. Since 2005, Sisdole residents have obstructed garbage disposal for 208 on various pretexts to exert pressure on the government to give in to their demands.

Garbage row enters Day II

A group of Okharpauwa locals obstructed garbage dumping on the third consecutive day on Saturday, leaving about 1,500 metric tonnes of garbage on Valley streets.

“We will block waste disposal at Aletar of Sisdole landfill site until the government commits in writing for sustainable waste management and a development package for

locals,” said Ramesh Prasad Paudel,

struggle committee coordinator.

The government has agreed to sit with the agitating locals for talks on Monday. According to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, about 500 metric tonnes of garbage is dumped at the landfill site every day. KMC alone produces some 350 metric tonnes of garbage daily.

The government has been looking for an alternative site in the valley to temporarily manage the garbage.