Police mobilized to dispose of waste

KATHMANDU, Sept 3: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) sought help from security personnel to dispose of waste on Thursday and faced no obstruction from the locals of Sisdole. KMC had taken 150 each from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force headed by Deputy Superintendents of Police from both the police organizations.



Ananda Ram Pokhrel, executive officer at KMC, said that around 87 trucks disposed of about 500 tons of wastes at the landfill site Thursday. [break]Of the total trucks, around 22 are from private sector and the rest from the KMC. “There has been no obstruction while disposing of waste.



However, the landslides are likely to affect disposal,” Pokhrel said. Although KMC on its first day of waste disposal took aid of 300 security personnel, police presence will be reduced gradually. “Tomorrow, we´ll deploy 200 police personnel, and gradually decrease the number,” Pokhrel said.



Due to landslide, waste could not be disposed of on Tuesday, Pokhrel said. “On Krishnaasthami the locals had a fair. Since people requested for no disturbance, we didn´t send the trucks until today,” Pokhrel told Republica. Krishnaasthami is an auspicious occasion when people celebrate the nativity of Lord Krishna.



Shyam Sundar Balami who heads the new rival group obstructing waste disposal said that they have allowed disposal of wastes for just 15 days. “We´re letting the trucks to pass only for 15 days. If KMC doesn´t fulfill our demands within the given time, or create favorable environment for talks, we´ll once again obstruct disposal,” Balami said.



However, Rabin Man Shrestha, Chief of Environment Management Department at KMC said that although they´ve received a letter from the locals, KMC won´t be taking care of it. “We´ll think about what to do after 15 days,” Shrestha said.



“We won´t talk to anybody except official people. However, with so many groups obstructing the disposal, deciding who to talk to is a problem,” Shrestha said.



The talks on Wednesday went in vain after Balami´s committee denied to be its part. “They hadn´t created a favorable environment for talks,” Balami said.



However this time, KMC took stern step saying as long as they don´t allow disposal of garbage, it wouldn´t sit for talks with the locals.



“That´s why they have lifted the obstruction,” Shrestha said.

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