Locals again disrupt waste disposal at Bancharedanda landfill site

Nuwakot, Nov 19: Containers arriving from the Kathmandu Valley carrying waste were sent back by locals without being allowed to dispose of the waste.

As a result, waste disposal at Bancharedanda, which lies along the border of Kakani in Nuwakot and Dhunbesi in Dhading, has once again been disrupted.     

Locals have demanded the implementation of the past agreement reached between them and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Scientific and systematic waste management is one of their key demands.     

In the first week of November, they had announced an indefinite obstruction of garbage disposal. Later, they agreed to withdraw their protest after Minister for Urban Development Kulman Ghising approached them with commitments to address their concerns. The locals said the Minister's commitments, which were supposed to be implemented within 15 days, have remained unmet, prompting them to start a fresh protest.     

The directly affected locals of Kakani Wards 1, 2, and 3, and Dhunbesi Municipality Wards 1 and 3 gathered in large numbers along the Kundule, Sisdole, and Dhande road sections and turned back the garbage trucks.     

They have demanded the implementation of the 18-point agreement reached earlier on June 9, 2022, regarding the disposal of Kathmandu Valley’s waste at the Sisdole–Bancharedanda–Kundule landfill site.     

Their demands include disposing of waste only at night, controlling foul odors, ensuring vehicles carrying waste do not leak leachate, and preventing leachate from entering rivers through proper scientific management.     

They complained that the failure to implement the past agreement has worsened their living conditions. Residents also reported an increase in infectious diseases and said their daily lives have been severely affected.     

The locals have sought ministerial-level commitments to address their concerns. Local representatives of Kakani and Belkotgadhi in Nuwakot and Dhunbesi in Dhading have expressed solidarity with the peaceful demonstrations by the locals.(RSS)