KATHMANDU

Waste collection in the Kathmandu Valley remains suspended for over a week due to obstruction of the people along the Pasang Lhamu Highway en route to Sisdole in Nuwakot. The locals have been demanding timely restoration of the damaged section of the Highway. Solid waste gathered from the Kathmandu Valley is disposed at Sisdole of Nuwakot for years and the collection from all 18 local levels here have come to a halt since February 13.

As a result, major towns in the Kathmandu Valley have already started stinking. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office has urged the Department of Roads to immediately address the issue and remove the obstructions. According to Office environment department chief Sarita Rai, they are facing frequent obstructions in the management of city waste in absence of a sustainable approach for the same. The project to repair the road that had begun some eight years ago is yet to complete, prompting locals to agitate. “The federal government is expected to be sensitive over such issue. The authorities concerned should make no further delay in addressing the demand.”

Though the federal government is responsible for dealing with the road construction works, the local government is alleged of mismanagement in the waste disposal. Presently, a (new) dumping site is being developed at Bancharedanda, two kilometers away from Sisdole in Nuwakot itself. The local government said it is facing challenges to manage waste as the works remained incomplete within the deadline.