KATHMANDU, APRIL 17
Citing the basic human rights to live in clean environment, a writ has been filed at the Supreme Court against Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the federal government for not collecting waste from Singha Durbar.
Advocate Padam Shrestha filed the writ on today, making the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and KMC Mayor Balen Shah defendants.
Waste produced inside Singha Durbar, president's residence and prime minister's residence have not been managed properly since April 7, following Mayor Shah's direction to stop collecting the waste from there.
The Essential Service Operation Act, issued by the Home Ministry has mentioned that waste management is one of the most essential services that cannot be interrupted at any cost. Anyone found violating the rule shall be liable to punishment of six months to one year behind bars as per the gravity of offence.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City is responsible for managing waste from the valley, and all the operational criteria of Banchare Danda landfill site comes under its jurisdiction.
Advocate Shrestha has demanded that the waste of Singha Durbar be collected at the earliest and disposed at the landfill site.
Article 30 of the Constitution of Nepal states that every person has the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. Shrestha demanded that the federal and local governments ensure clean environment as per the Solid Waste Management Act.
Meanwhile, Singha Durbar has been managing the waste produced on its own premises. The waste managing companies are segregating the waste.
The items are divided into three groups: first the saleable goods are sent to scrap collectors, edible waste is sent to animals to eat and the remaining waste is being dumped on the premises itself.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 18, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
