KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Waste management in the Kathmandu Valley is once again likely to be obstructed as locals from the Banchare Danda landfill site in Nuwakot have blocked garbage trucks from entering the area.
Hundreds of trucks loaded with waste collected from across Kathmandu Valley are currently lined up on the Balaju-Mudku road segment, unable to reach the landfill due to the ongoing protest.
Locals have resumed their agitation, reiterating long-standing demands that they say remain unmet despite a written agreement with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), federal and provincial government.
Locals obstruct dumping of garbage in Banchare Danda
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has taken the responsibility for the Valley’s waste management.
Sarita Rai, head of KMC’s Environment Management Department, confirmed that garbage trucks have been stopped on the road. “We have fulfilled almost all of the previous demands as per our agreement,” Rai told Republica. “We have provided health insurance, supported education and job placement, covered health expenses, and carried out infrastructure development. I don’t think their remaining demands are related to KMC anymore,” she said, adding that locals should now raise those concerns with the provincial or federal government.
However, KMC has yet to implement one key provision of the earlier agreement — managing waste disposal during nighttime hours. Rai said the delay was due to a lack of lighting and other technical challenges. “We are currently installing solar lights and improving working conditions for night operations. We are confident that we can resume nighttime waste management soon,” she added.
Despite multiple agreements with KMC and the Ministry of Urban Development, locals claim their concerns have not been fully addressed. Their demands include relocating the settlements around Banchare Danda by 3–4 kilometers, establishing a compost plant to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, and granting them rights to use 90 percent of the nearby Guthi land.
This time, the protesters have called for measures to mitigate environmental impacts, reduce foul odors from the landfill, and secure ownership of the Guthi land in the area for local use.
