Folks then rise up and hold up garbage trucks plying in ´their´ areas, demanding that promises be fulfilled, if not adding more demands to their ´government-must-do list´. [break]
Dumping of garbage has never been easy for Kathmandu Metropolis and the problem has not properly addressed or handled for that matter. Though the Government of China has provided technical assistance to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the management of garbage in the Kathmandu Valley and donated 108 vehicles, 4,000 dustbins and four ambulances worth Rs 300 million, the landfill sites are the main obstruction. It´s funny how the government cannot find a permanent solution to garbage disposal, but can we have a say in all this?
The handkerchiefs, tissues and masks are widely seen with the rise in the garbage piles as well. Making it worst is the rain! The garbage is all over the place, blocking the little drainage system that we have in the capital city.
As if walking in Kathmandu wasn´t difficult enough, the stoppage in garbage collection for many days makes it even more uneasy for people to take a step out of the house. But why and how does the garbage pile up in the middle of the street?
All of us know the answer to that, but why can´t we just manage it inside our houses somewhere until the garbage collection resumes? Or maybe even burn it after collecting the garbage in one particular place?
The youth of Kathmandu need to take a step here!
Throwing garbage out of the window, as if it´s a competition, has been a practice for ages. This ill practice has been followed by one generation after another. But it´s high time the youth did something about it made their city a little more livable.
Muna Bista, 21, says, “Normally we don´t trash garbage outside. We stack it up outside the house and the garbage collector takes it away. But if he doesn´t show up, then we trash it wherever the garbage has been thrown, be it in the middle of the street or beside anyone´s house.”
Why is it that we can´t just trash it somewhere inside our house somewhere? If it smells, why can´t we learn to distribute garbage in different trash bags? Plastic and paper products in one, excess food in another and other junk stuff in the next bag. How difficult is that? And is it really ethical to just litter the roads or some other person´s house?
Twenty-one-year-old Neha Shrestha complains, “Usually, people from my community throw garbage right outside our main gate. Once we hung the sign board saying ´Throwing garbage here is strictly prohibited´ but in vain. So these days even the garbage from our house is thrown outside our main gate. We are helpless.” She adds that she has seen her neighbors throwing garbage from the terrace of the house.
Old habits die hard and it´s true but the generation next need to take a step to do something about it. We can´t help but listen or read what´s happening in the government but one simple step of ours can bring a change to a foul-smelling Kathmandu.
“My parents usually burn the garbage if it´s not picked up but since it´s raining, it´s difficult to burn it; sometimes we just trash it outside in the alley. But that´s just now,” shares 22-year-old Nigam Khanal.
Since the government does not have proper facilities for garbage disposal, it is up to us to manage it. And nothing will change unless the youth take a step
forward.
Living in Kathmandu is not easy at all with the mad traffic, the scorching heat (when it´s not raining) and the dust. And we´re making it worst with the garbage piles all over the streets. It´s high time the youth took the initiative to bring a change in this age-old bad practice-throwing garbage irresponsibly in the streets.
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