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Kathmandu Friday November 10, 2000 Kartik 25, 2057.
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Manage waste disposal
The problem of finding a suitable dumping site
has been plaguing the government and the Kathmandu metropolitan authorities since quite
some time. It is truly regrettable that authorities have been unable to solve this problem
by finding a suitable dumping site. Kathmandu produces close to 3000 quintals of trash
daily, but the problem of disposing it seems to at the bottom of the government’s
agenda. Worse still, the problem of selecting a dumping site has been plagued by political
wrangling and public pressure. A proper waste management system for Kathmandu simply does
not exist.
Since the termination of a German funded
project for managing Kathmandu’s garbage problem about two years ago, the government
has paid scant attention to the problem. The failure to identify a suitable dumping site
shows the government’s ineptitude. All it has been able to do is to resort to
temporary dumping
in areas inside the valley, thus aggravating the health hazard. An example of this is the
short term solution like dumping along the Gokarna-Gujeswori stretch of Bagmati river.
This ill fated effort not only damaged the river ecosystem but also resulted in a number
of incidents of bird collision with airplanes. The implication was that failure to manage
waste could inadvertently threaten the nation’s tourism industry. Local resistance
has played an important role in preventing dumping in populated areas, but it has also
resulted in failure to use the identified sites for dumping.
It is imperative that the government do
careful homework to find a truly suitable permanent site. Recent reports have indicated
Simpani in Makwanpur district as a possible location. The sparsely populated area,
however, needs some infrastructure development. It is indeed regrettable that the
government’s choice of Okharpauwa has been deemed unsuitable by the World
Conservation Union (IUCN). Authorities should learn to accept expert advice that takes
into account the long term impacts. Instead of simply choosing a site to throw away the
garbage, it is imperative that the government implement a systematic waste management
programme. Separating bio-degradable and non-degradable waste is important as only the
latter needs to be dumped carefully in landfills. Technology for recycling waste products
must also be made available. There is no reason why Nepal should not import these
techniques. Paper, glass and metal belong to the category of recyclable materials. A lot
of money can be saved if such materials are recycled. Long term waste management must
include establishing infrastructure for the waste management industry also. Apart from the
direct benefit of proper waste disposal, a lot of people can be employed.
It is high time the government thought
seriously about managing the garbage problem. Simply choosing short term solutions will
not help. What the people need is efficient collection and disposal of waste from our
overpopulated city. Political pressure and local resistance should not be allowed to
influence the government’s choice of a dumping site. The government should also do
more serious study before it takes its next step to resolve this perennial problem.
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