KATHMANDU, JUN 29 -
The ongoing obstruction in the construction of a road leading to Aletar Landfill Site by locals of Nuwakot has raised fears in the Capital that the streets of Kathmandu Valley will again see piles of garbage soon.

Officials of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) said the landfill site can only withstand Kathmandu’s waste for a few days if the 500-meter road was not constructed to the other side of Aletar. Over 500 tonnes of garbage is produced in the Capital in a day.

“It can only bear garbage for three to four days if not constructed the road,” said Deepak Ratna Kansakar, site in-charge of Aletar Landfill Site. “Aletar site can bear garbage for three to four months more, but the road must be constructed,” said Kansakar.

The landfill came into operation on September last year after Sisdol Landfill Site near the area was jam-packed with garbage. Over Rs. 13 million was invested to construct Sisdol site, estimated to sustain for 18 months.

This is not the first time locals of this area protested despite the fact that garbage disposal comes under essential service and those behind obstruction are liable for punishment. Demanding road, water supply, school, irrigation and employment, locals of Aletar and Sisdol obstructed KMC from dumping garbage many times in the past.

Just two weeks ago, the Valley saw four-days of blockage in garbage collection that resumed on June 15 after locals and officials of Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre (SWMRMC) signed 60th agreement in the last five years. “Sisdole and Aletar dwellers come up with new demands,” said Kansakar.

The family of Kumar Bhujel is the latest to put forth new demands by obstructing the road construction.

When asked how they would resolve the row, SWMRMC director Sumitra Amatya said, “We don’t have budget to construct the road since we are at the end of this fiscal year.” The government has invested over Rs. 100 million in the area so far.

Posted on: 2010-06-30 08:11

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