Submit your Article

Waste management problem of Kathmandu has resurfaced once again due to the protests by residents of Kakani Rural Municipality in Nuwakot and Dhunibesi Municipality in Dhading. They have blocked the transportation of waste trucks to Banchare Danda, the designated landfill site, citing non-implementation of previous agreements with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). 

The agitating locals claim that despite signing an agreement a year ago, the KMC has failed to fulfill its obligations.

Suman Tamang, chairperson of Kakani Rural Municipality, says that it is not feasible for people to live among fetid waste, while KMC does nothing. “Kathmandu should manage its waste in alternative sites or relocate the affected residents. If this issue remains unaddressed, waste disposal will continue to be disrupted,” he says.

Around 50 waste trucks are stuck between Sisdole and Banchare Danda. The residents have accused the KMC of deceiving them by not adhering to the agreements, which included the segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and the management of only degradable waste at the landfill site. 

Recently, Kakani Rural Municipality decided to charge an entry fee for vehicles carrying garbage. However, local residents opposed this decision, saying that public health is more important than revenue. 

An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against levying of the entry fee for garbage trucks, resulting in an interim stay order preventing the collection of fees. 

The KMC team attempted to negotiate with municipal officials, but to no avail. 

“The locals and municipal officials asked us to negotiate with the federal government instead. They are obstructing the route but they want us to negotiate with the federal government,” says Nabin Manandhar, the KMC spokesperson.

The main demand of the protesting locals is acquisition of 3,000 ropanis of land surrounding the waste disposal site, which is beyond the KMC’s capabilities alone. Manandhar says that the KMC is in contact with the federal government regarding this matter.

Until last year, garbage from the 18 local areas in Kathmandu Valley was managed at Sisdole, but it was subsequently relocated to the nearby Banchare Danda landfill site, which lies on the border of Nuwakot and Dhading districts

The Kathmandu Valley again faces challenges for the waste management as locals of Kakani Rural Municipality in Nuwakot and Dhunibesi Municipality in Dhading have obstructed the transportation of waste containers to Banchare Danda, the landfill site.

The agitating locals have cited non-implementation of agreements reached with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City before this as the reason for their protest. They claim that despite signing an agreement a year ago, the Kathmandu Metropolis has failed to implement it. As a result, waste management from 18 local levels in the Kathmandu Valley has been disrupted.

Dhunibesi Municipality-1 Chair Man Bahadur Tamang said the waste disposal has been halted beginning today. "It is not possible for humans to live together with waste. We demand either to manage waste in other areas and relocate the locals. If the problem remains unaddressed, frequent obstructions in waste disposal are very likely."

Following the locals' protests, around 50 waste containers were stopped in between Sisdole and Banchare Danda.  The locals accused the Kathmandu Metropolis of cheating them in the name of agreements which also include the segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and manage just degradable waste there.

The agitating people have accused the metropolis of not implementing the agreement when one year has already elapsed since its signing.

However, KMC infrastructure advisor Sunil Lamsal said the waste management is taking place as per the agreement.  "The locals' main demand is for acquisition of 3,000 ropanis of land around the waste disposal site which is not something that the KMC can accomplish singlehandedly. The KMC is in touch with the federal government regarding the matter. "

Until last year, garbage collected from the 18 local levels in Kathmandu Valley was being managed at Sisdole. Then it was shifted to the nearby Banchadare Danda landfill site bordering Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

Bir Hospital and National Trauma Center have decided to provide OPD services from 8 am. Before this, the hospitals have been providing the services from 9 am.

Dr Santosh Poudel, Director at Bir Hospital, said that the OPD services have been started from 8am today for the convenience of the patients.

According to him, the time for registering for check-up has been fixed from 7 am to 2.30 pm at both health facilities.

Surgical services will start from 8 am at Bir Hospital, Dr Poudel added.

Moreover, the Hospital Administration has made e-attendance mandatory for all employees.

Three thousand patients have been availing of OPD services daily from the Hospital.

Chief of Trauma Centre, Dr Badri Rijal, said that the OPD services have been started from 8.15 am at the Centre. The services have been started from the morning at all the departments under the Centre.

A meeting of the Executive Council of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) had decided to start the OPD services at Bir Hospital and the National Trauma Centre from 8 am.

With the implementation of automatic fuel pricing, the government has slashed the public transport fares.

The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) slashed the transport fares to be effective from today in line with the fall in the prices of petroleum products.

According to the automatic pricing system, the prices of petrol and diesel have been slashed by Rs 6 and Rs 4 per liter respectively.

Based on this, the department has reduced the fare by 2.13 percent in passenger vehicles, 2.78 percent in the cargo carriers plying on hill roads and 3. 09 percent in Tarai.