By Indira Aryal
Kathmandu, Apr. 3: Garbage collection in Kathmandu Valley, which has stopped for eight straight days, resumed on Friday.
Teachers' Management Struggle Committee and the locals of Sisdol Landfill site affected area in Nuwakot had been obstructing the collection since March 26, putting forward various demands.
According to Hari Kumar Shrestha, environment department chief at Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), a seven-point agreement has been reached between the residents of the landfill affected area and KMC on Friday, following which the vehicles had already started collecting garbage from noon. Some 200 vehicles had already reached the landfill site as of now.
As per the agreement, Kakani Rural Municipality of Nuwakot and Dhunibesi Municipality of Dhading will get Rs. 30 million each in the coming fiscal year for infrastructure development.
KMC has expressed its commitment towards providing a budget grant covering the salary expenses of the 51 teachers who would be provided with permanent posts by the federal government once the procedure is completed.
It has been agreed that 46 teachers will be appointed for schools under Kakani Rural Municipality and five for Dhunibesi Municipality.
In addition, the KMC will build infrastructure for the operation of a 15-bed hospital in the affected area, along with the salary for its doctors.
However, for the time being, healthcare services will be provided through alternative arrangements.
What’s more, the KMC will immediately start the post-closure work at the existing landfill site as per the technical recommendation providing alternate site at Bancharedanda.
According to Anish Sharma Dhungana, coordinator of the Teachers' Management Struggle Committee, the vehicles dump the waste near the settlement areas, creating a lot of trouble for its residents.
“The Sisdol landfill site was asked for three years but it has been 15 years since the KMC started dumping the Valley’s waste,” Dhungana said. The alternate place now is Bancharadanda, which will be used for 50 years, he added.
“Now we are awaiting the implementation of the agreement and let’s hope KMC will make good on the agreement,” he added.