Jhapa, August 17

Five municipalities have agreed to work in collaboration for garbage management in Jhapa. In the wake of rising garbage challenge, municipalities plan to ‘turn trash into cash’.

As per Mayor Rajendra Kumar Pokhrel at  Kankai Municipality, Kakai, Birtamod, Arjundhara, Shivsatakshi and  Mechinagar municipalities will jointly manage garbage in the district. Pokhrel said biodegradable and non-biodegradable trash will be segregated and biogas will be produced from biodegradable garbage  while petroleum product will be generated through  plastic waste.

For  biogas production, a plant with the capacity of 4,000 cubic metres will be set up.  The plant is estimated to cost Rs 160 million. World Bank has pledged  to provide 40 per cent grant for the plant.

“Locals and municipalities will  bear 60 per cent of the cost,” said Mayor Pokhrel.

For the plant  installation, three bigahas of land have been managed at Kankai  Municiplaity-2.