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Garbage collection, disposal obstructed
KATHMANDU, MAR 30 -
Garbage collection in the Kathmandu Valley was halted on Tuesday after locals living near Aletar dumping site in Nuwakot district prevented garbage disposal at the dumping site.
The locals on Monday barred Kathmdnu Metropolitan City (KMC) employees and the vehicles carrying garbage from disposing garbage in the dumping site demanding implementation of past agreements.
Chattre Deurali and Chaletar locals, who have formed ‘A’ Class Garbage Struggle Committee, on Monday, also dispatched a letter KMC, the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) and Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre (SWMRMC), demanding employment for local youths, construction of roads, electricity and water supply to the villages.
However, SWMRMC Director Sumitra Amatya said most of their demands have been fulfilled and that the other demands were under consideration. “It’s a bit confusing that they are coming up with different demands time and again,” said Amatya. “I have no inkling of the agitating group’s new demand.”
KMC has taken strong exception to the locals’ move of barring KMC vehicles from entering the dumping site.
“It is unfair to obstruct garbage disposal without prior notice,” said Rabinman Shrestha, Chief of Environment Management Department of KMC. “Such obstructions time and again have become a big problem for us. Locals announce strike out of the blue without proper reasons.” Over 400 tonnes of garbage could not be collected from the Valley on Tuesday.
In an interesting turn, locals of Teku on Tuesday were also against garbage collection citing that the garbage will stored in KMC Environment Department’s garbage management centre at Teku, which will create problem to them. The Aletar landfill site came into operation in September last year with an investment of Rs. 13 million.
KMC, MoLD officials and the agitating locals are scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday morning.
Posted on: 2010-03-31 08:01
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