KATHMANDU, Feb 4: Kathmandu locals are delighted by the sight of cleaner and uncluttered roads close to two weeks after the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) began to collect garbage from the capital.
“Of course I am delighted over this,” 35-year-old Kiran Lohani said. Lohani, who works in a hotel, added that the garbage that piled up over three weeks was unsightly to the public. [break]
With a daily average of 350 tons of waste per day, close to 7000 tons of waste was uncollected in the valley due to protesting groups at Okharpauwa VDC who had blockaded landfill sites at Sisdol for three weeks, putting forth various demands.
Most of the locals interviewed in areas such as New Road, Baneshwor, Bag Bazar and Pulchowk expressed their happiness at cleaner roads.
“There has been a lot of improvement, but I feel that the government is not making this issue its top concern,” student Asmita Dahal said.
When asked if she would throw rubbish such as tissue paper or food wrappers indiscriminately on the streets, the 19-year-old said she instead compiles all her rubbish at home and waits for the local garbage collector.
“We must be conscious over the cleanliness of the city,” she said.
Though most interviewed were quick to deny littering in the streets, Patan Multiple College student Kapil Regmi admits to playing a part in this. “Sometimes I would throw food wrappers on the roads, though I know it is wrong,” he said.
Some cited convenience and habit as the reason behind this.
When asked for suggestions, most locals like banker Dhiraj Sharma wanted the public to have a greater awareness of garbage disposal.
“First and foremost, we need to be aware of the cleanliness of our city and not just our homes. We should also not litter our garbage haphazardly in the city,” the 30-year-old said.
20-year-old Kapil Regmi hopes for strict rules and heavy fines for indiscriminate garbage disposal in the city.
