Kathmandu. The talks held to resolve the problem ended inconclusively after the locals of Bancharidanda, who had been obstructing the disposal of garbage from the Kathmandu Valley demanding implementation of the agreement reached in the past, started adding new demands one after the other.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising had held a meeting with stakeholders after the movement of garbage was disrupted since Wednesday. Advocate Subhas Pathak was present as a representative of the Ministry of Urban Development, Dhunibesi Municipality of Dhading, Kakani Rural Municipality of Nuwakot, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and local residents.

Stating that the process for land acquisition for landfill would begin once most of the agreements reached in the past have been implemented and the affected areas are finalized following the Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Minister Ghising urged the government to withdraw their protest programmes as obstructing transportation of garbage from time to time would send a bad message.

He added that discussions were held with the Prime Minister later to resolve the problem and works positively were carried out to implement the agreement. After that, a 9-point draft of the decision of the meeting was prepared by Advocate Pathak, who participated in the meeting.

The people’s representatives of both the municipalities who participated in the meeting had agreed on this. While signing the decision in the presence of Minister Ghising, other people’s representatives also refused to sign the decision after Pathak left expressing his disagreement with the decision prepared by him.

After this, Minister Ghising said that they were flexible to address their demands but warned that they would be compelled to raise their hands over the issues between the metropolis and the locals if new demands were added one after the other.

Here was the draft of the decision:

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1. To immediately decide on the issues raised by the people and write to the local people.

2. Write to the consultant company for the expeditious preparation of the EIA report and take a written commitment therefor. In the budget of the coming fiscal year, the work of allocating the necessary budget for the land tribunal as per the EIA report will be forwarded.

3. To immediately provide compensation for the houses and crops of the fiscal year 2082/83 to the locals of Banchare Danda, the KMC will also provide compensation to the most affected locals of Banchare area within a month on the basis of the area affected by Sisdol.

4. As the leach has directly entered the water source due to the dumping of garbage beyond the capping layer prepared for disposal, the pollution of the Kolpu river has caused a big impact on the livelihood of the locals.

5. Arrange for free medical treatment to the locals of the most affected areas of Banchare and Sisdol in the Kathmandu Valley within 1 (one) month from now and make arrangements for compulsory quota in schools and colleges within the Kathmandu Valley through special card system or any other means.

6. To present the agenda of the Mayors’ Forum or the Ministry for employment opportunities for the affected people of the Banchre landfill site in the waste emitting municipalities.

7. The Ministry of Urban Development will request other municipalities emitting waste to contribute to increase the amount given by the metropolis to 2 municipalities from Rs 30 million each to Rs 60 million.

8. To prepare a work procedure to provide immediate relief to the families of those who died due to various diseases due to the waste of Sisdol and Kudule Banchare hill.

9. Immediately remove and resume the obstruction in the transportation and disposal of garbage by the locals.