KATHMANDU, Nov 2 : Minister for Energy, Urban Development and Physical Infrastructure Kulman Ghising reached Bancharedanda on Sunday morning after garbage collection in the Kathmandu Valley came to a halt due to local protests at the landfill site.
Garbage trucks from Kathmandu have been unable to dump waste at the Bancharedanda landfill for several days after locals from Kakani Rural Municipality, Dhunibesi Municipality, and Belkotgadhi Municipality blocked access, accusing the government of failing to implement previous agreements.
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Minister Ghising inspected the landfill area and held discussions with officials on-site following widespread complaints over uncollected waste piling up across the Valley. According to the Ministry, the visit aimed to assess the situation and explore immediate measures to resume waste management operations.
Local residents said they stopped allowing waste disposal because authorities failed to honor the 18-point agreement signed between Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and the affected communities two years ago. The agreement, reached during Mayor Balendra Shah’s tenure, included commitments to manage odor within a month, prevent leachate from contaminating nearby streams, improve waste-transport infrastructure, and support social and health programs in the area.
However, locals said the commitments had not been fulfilled.
The obstruction has caused garbage to accumulate across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. KMC has issued a public notice urging residents to store their waste within their premises until further notice.
Minister Ghising’s inspection marks the first high-level government visit at the landfill sie since the blockade began. Officials said discussions are underway with local representatives to address their demands and ensure the smooth resumption of waste collection.
Locals have warned they will not allow garbage dumping until the previous agreement is fully implemented.
Kathmandu generates over 1,200 tonnes of solid waste daily, most of which is transported to the Bancharedanda site, located on the border of Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
