Judul : Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies
link : Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies
Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies
Kathmandu, November 22 – Waste collection in Kathmandu Valley and certain areas of Kavrepalanchok district has restarted following an 11-point agreement reached on Thursday evening between officials and residents from Nuwakot and Dhading districts, who had been preventing access to the Bancharedanda dumpsite.
For more than twenty years, the Valley has faced ongoing issues with waste management. Previously, residents near the landfill site blocked waste disposal as a way to exert pressure on officials to meet their demands related to development initiatives, land acquisition impacted by the landfill, compensation, and healthcare services.
The demonstrations had mostly died down after Kathmandu's mayor, Balendra Shah, pledged to uphold earlier agreements made with demonstrators and tackle their new issues after being elected in 2022.
Waste disposal blockages have started once more in the past three weeks.
Here is everything you need to be aware of regarding the recent delay and the deal finalized with the protesting residents.
New hindrance in garbage disposal
Demanding the government to fulfill an 18-point pact signed approximately three years back, residents from the areas impacted by the landfill in Nuwakot and Dhading districts began on October 29 from preventing garbage-carrying trucks from approaching the landfill location.
This time, the chairpersons of eight affected wards went out onto the streets to prevent garbage trucks from passing. The obstruction caused a halt in door-to-door waste collection in Kathmandu for approximately four days.
The Kathmandu municipality urged urban citizens to avoid throwing garbage in the streets.
On November 2, Minister of Urban Development Kulman Ghising promised to drop charges against local young people accused of damaging garbage trucks and to meet other requests within 15 days—to encourage residents to stop the blockage. Following the demands, Ghising personally went to the impacted regions on November 2 and had talks with the protesters.
However, when their requests were ignored, they restarted the blockage beginning on Wednesday.
Ghising personally took action to remove the obstruction on Wednesday and Thursday, and facilitated an 11-point agreement, which has temporarily resolved the blockade.
Old and new agreements
The 18-point accord finalized three years back involved the purchase of land impacted by the landfill. It was decided that the government would buy the 1.5 sq km region near the landfill site by providing compensation to the owners.
The new deal announced on Thursday also involves expediting the environmental impact evaluation for land acquisition.
Remedies for previous harm caused by waste, enhancing healthcare facilities and infrastructure in impacted regions, providing medications and medical professionals, reinforcing school buildings, conducting development projects, and repairing roads are some of the ongoing concerns that appear in every agreement.
This time, the KMC has agreed to increase annual grants given to two local units—from Rs30 million to Rs60 million.
The main point of both the 18-point and 11-point agreements revolves around the decision to drop charges against two individuals alleged to have damaged garbage trucks and machinery involved in waste management in August 2022.
"They have promised us that the cases will be dropped right away and our other requests fulfilled as soon as possible," said Nirajan Sanjel, a local inhabitant from the affected region of Dhunibeshi Rural Municipality in Dhading district.
Sanjel is among those charged with damaging refuse trucks.
Officials from KMC on new obstruction
Officials from the KMC's environmental department stated that the new obstruction was initiated by two young individuals, against whom criminal cases have been filed for damaging garbage trucks and other vehicles.
They claimed that residents blocked waste disposal at Bancharedanda when the landfill first started operating about three years ago, making several demands. Some young people damaged 18 vehicles, including the city's bulldozers, excavators, and garbage trucks. The KMC has filed cases against some of those involved in the incident.
A young individual against whom criminal charges have been filed recently came back to Nepal from Malta," said Uddhab Nepal, the site in-charge of the Bancharedanda landfill. "Upon realizing that he couldn't return to Malta without the case being dropped, he incited the locals and caused disruptions.
23 local communities dispose of garbage in Bancharedanda
In addition to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 22 other local units—all located in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, as well as the municipalities of Banepa, Dhulikhel, and Mandan Deupur in Kavrepalanchok—dispose of their waste at Bancharedanda. More than 200 garbage trucks deposit waste daily.
If there is a blockage at the landfill location, the waste collection and disposal processes for all 23 local units are impacted.
As per a KMC estimate, the 18 local units within the Kathmandu Valley produce more than 1,200 metric tons of solid waste every day. Half of this amount comes from KMC alone.
KMC representatives stated that although 22 other local authorities also utilize the landfill area, KMC is responsible for responding to community requests during each demonstration.
Residents claim blocking waste management is not an option
Amrit Lama, a resident of Digaun, the village hardest hit in Dhunibeshi Rural Municipality, has taken a room at Banasthali Kathmandu, as his family has been effectively displaced due to the nearby waste site. Lama's house is located within 100 meters of the landfill.
Preventing waste disposal is not our decision," said Lama. "We are forced to endure the smell constantly, sleep with masks on, and witness heaps of garbage every day.
As reported by other residents, flies, crows, hawks, stray dogs, and jackals from the waste disposal area have rendered the village uninhabitable. Agricultural land has been harmed by leachate seeping from the site, and animals have perished after consuming polluted water.
"Nobody is interested in purchasing our land, and we are unable to use it as collateral at the bank," laments Lama.
Changed political context
This time, elected officials from the impacted regions supported the protesting residents. KMC authorities state that local representatives participated in and endorsed the demonstration because they were chosen by local voters and need to take into account their political future.
Authorities mention that previously, local politicians would prevent residents from interfering with waste management because they were part of the same parties leading the government. However, the situation has changed now, following the establishment of a non-partisan temporary government after the Gen Z movement overthrew the UML-Congress alliance in September.
It's well known that politics plays a role in waste management in Nepal," stated a KMC official, who wished to remain anonymous as they are not permitted to discuss political issues. "Shifts in national politics certainly have an impact on various matters, including waste disposal.
Demikianlah Artikel Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies
Anda sekarang membaca artikel Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies dengan alamat link https://www.arablionz.pro/2025/11/why-bancharedandas-obstruction-keeps.html
0 Response to "Why Bancharedanda's obstruction keeps recurring and what the new deal signifies"
Posting Komentar