KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Waste disposal at Sisdole of Okharpauwa has resumed from Wednesday morning after 20 days of obstruction caused by the locals. Locals of Sisdole in Nuwakot district had obstructed the disposal of the Valley's waste at the landfill site since August 10. The locals agreed to let the disposal resume after the municipal authorities assured to fulfill their various demands during several rounds of meeting between the two sides on Monday and Tuesday.
“We had obstructed the garbage disposal as the nuisance created by unmanaged garbage in Sisdole landfill site resulted in poor condition of road which was already affected by landslides; low agricultural production; disease outbreak and various kinds of skin infections on humans as well as animals," said Dhan Bahadur Tamang, a local of Sisdole, adding, "Even the sources of drinking water have been contaminated, causing adverse effect on our health."
On Monday morning, some irate locals vandalized a bus used for transporting garbage. Another meeting was called again on Tuesday and finally the two parties decided to settle the issue.
According to Tamang, the government is yet to address their various demands mentioned in the 12-point agreement reached between the locals and the government authorities in 2007.
Resolving Kathmandu Valley’s solid waste problems
As per the agreement, the locals were assured of timely maintenance of roads, proper irrigation facilities, free health services, drinking water supply among others.
Raju Maharjan, spokesperson of Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC), said, “Those demands which can be immediately addressed will be fulfilled soon while others will take time."
More than 80 metric tons of waste collected on a daily basis remained piled up at the metropolis in the last 20 days due to the obstruction, informed Maharjan.
Maharjan said that nine garbage trucks collected the wastage from the roadsides since Wednesday morning.
“Our first priority is to repair the road affected by landslides as soon as possible and then black-topping the road after the rainy season,” said Maharjan.
As per the new agreement, the authorities have assured to fulfill the demand sof the locals which include maintenance of roads as soon as possible, proper irrigation facility, 60% employment, cleaning up of landslide debris among others.
