POKHARA: Garbage has been piling up in the Lake City for the last five days after the agitating local body staffers stopped the collection and dumping of the waste.

Employees at Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City have halted regular works since December 15, demanding the implementation of an agreement reached with the government five months ago.

Residents of Manendrapul, Prithivi Chowk, Chipledhunga, Shrijana Chowk, Lakeside and New Road are experiencing a stench off late, emanating from the garbage heaps. The staffers halted all essential services from December 20, said Narayan Sharma, an officer at the sub-metropolis.

The staffers have maintained that they would continue with the protest programmes until the fulfilment of their demands. The local body employees have been demanding pay and perks at par with the civil servants, and trade union rights, among others. ''Failure to dispose off garbage in the past few days threatens public health," said a local resident, Kishor Panta. "There is a risk of a disease outbreak.''

Sushil Paudel, chief, sanitation division, said about 40 tonnes of garbage is produced in the lake city daily. The Metropolis dumps the solid waste at Chhine Danda Landfill site.