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Garbo brigade will rule, for now
KATHMANDU, JUN 13 -
The halt to the garbage collection service near Alemater dumping site that was at a halt since Saturday due to Ratamate locals’ objection in Nuwakot district will continue as the meeting held between the protesters and Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre (SWM-RMC) on Sunday failed to see eye to eye.
“The Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) cannot alone fulfil the demands of the locals, and so we are seeking the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Infrastructure and Development for the further help,” said Deependra Oli, legal advisor at
SWM-RMC.
Oli said that the most of demands were frivolous even though these are under consideration.
“The demands are individual and the protesters do not represent the voice of the people at the dumping site region. The problem will continue unless we understand the economic value of waste.”
According to Rabin Man Shrestha, Chief of Environment Management Department at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the protesters are politicising the issue. “They appear to be guided by political motives even though their demands are on the verge of being fulfiled.”
The protesting locals are singing a different tune. They claim the government is reluctant to implement past agreements such as upgrading local health posts and schools, construction of roads and irrigation channels. They also said their protest will not end until government gives a written commitment to address their demands.
According to data from MoLD, the government has been providing Rs. 10 million since the fiscal year 2007 for improving the living standards of people affected due to the dumping site.
That apart, the government provided Rs. 30.3 million for the construction of roads in the fiscal year 2008-09 and 2009-10, Rs. 10 million for rural electrification, Rs.1 million for upgrading health posts aside from Rs 1 million to upgrade schools and irrigation channels. Last year, an additional Rs. 800,000 was allocated for upgrading the living standard of locals.
“Vocational training was also conducted and the number of staffers in different government offices located there was increased,” said Top Ram Acharya, assistant manager at SWM-RMC.
“The problem will never end unless we utilise garbage to generate profit. It can be used to produce manure and carbon finance,” said Bhusan Tuladhar, former Director at Environment and Public Health Organisation. “The government alone cannot install or operate plants to use solid waste for producing manure. This needs government and public partnership.”
Posted on: 2010-06-14 07:31
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