The approximately 37,000 staffers of local bodies have resorted to an indefinite strike demanding the government to fulfill a string of demands ranging from making temporary staff permanent and ensuring them trade union rights, among others.
The Kathmandu Valley, which generates about 600 metric tons of garbage everyday, has turned into an inhabitable place with heaps of waste at many different locations making movement in and around these places impossible. Additionally, the stench coming out from these piles of waste has made living difficult for people around its periphery. It’s unfortunate that the Kathmandu Valley has to bear the brunt of garbage politics time and again. The denizens of the Valley have to suffer a similar fate at regular intervals as the locals around the Sisdol landfill site in Okharpauwa, Nuwakot district, keep on obstructing waste disposal with a host of demands.
Besides the Kathmandu Valley, the ongoing strike has given birth to a similar situation in many other cities and towns. According to a report filed from Dharan, about 60 tons of garbage has accumulated in the municipality. Dharan Municipality produces about 10 to 12 tons of garbage everyday.
Apart from being an eyesore, the uncollected waste can become a breeding ground for a lot of diseases such as plague, a highly-contagious disease. We cannot run such a risk, hence we urge the representatives of the local bodies and the government to sit down and sort out issues as early as possible.
Related story
Kathmandu joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network for film
