Garbage row resumes

• Locals, SWMRC at loggerheads

ISHWAR RAUNIYAR

KATHMANDU, NOV 04 - Locals at the Aletar landfill site in Nuwakot have asked Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to not send in any waste for disposal starting Wednesday.

"They tried to obstruct the disposal on Tuesday itself. But, after a request, they let us send it in," said Rabin Man Shrestha, chief of the Environmental Department of KMC. "They have asked us not to bring the waste from Wednesday onwards, demanding the implementing of the agreement that was made last month." However, he said that KMC planned to collect the waste from the valley and take for disposal.

The struggle committee had a five-point agreement between Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and the Solid Waste Management and Resource Centre (SWMRC) on Oct. 6, which was the last date of the obstruction of waste disposal.

The five-point agreement signed between the government and obstructing locals, included an inspection of the area to continue road construction in the area, the sending in of technicians for the management of drinking water, and employment for villagers if any post vacant at KMC disposal.

"It has been nearly a month that we signed an agreement with the KMC and SWMRC, but so far, there are no signs of implication," said Bhawana Karki, coordinator of the Karki Village Struggle Committee. "The government doesn't do anything if we don't protest."

According to her the SWMRC sent in two engineers on Monday after they received news of the planned protest. "We will not let the waste be deposited at the site until and unless the government shows some kinds of work adhering to the written agreement," Karki added.

However, on the other side, the SWMRC has a different view regarding the issue. "The changes stated in the agreement cannot be done in a day or week. Our engineers were on leave; it took time to notify them of the changes that needed to be made," said Sumitra Amatya, director of the SWMRC. "The villagers shouldn't always try to obstruct the disposal, stating different reasons each time."

According to Amatya, no agreement was made about providing employment to the villagers. She added that the government was prepared to use force if the locals tried to obstruct the disposal again on Wednesday. "The government is not in a position to appoint any jobs and the villagers should understand that," said Amatya. "We are committed to the agreement and reasonable changes will soon be implemented."

This will be the 56th dispute regarding waste disposal between the government and struggle committee, should they not reach an agreement.