A tripartite commitment by the Ministry of Urban Development and Kathmandu Metropolitan City on Monday had valley residents optimistic that waste management would resume from Tuesday. True to their word, municipality workers began their responsibilities of collecting waste from roadsides – however once the trucks reached Sisdole area, locals obstructed vehicular movement, preventing trucks from dumping the waste.

On Monday evening, Minister for Urban Development Ram Kumar Jhakri,  KMC Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) and KMC Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol pledged to address the concerns of Sisdole residents – commitments included a health post, treatment of waste, eradication of stench, reforestation drive, communal temple, health insurance, and pouring mud over dumped waste. The commitment was signed by Rabindra Bohara, project chief of Banchare Dada landfill site, Lok Nath Poudyal, Chief Administrative Officer Kathmandu Metro, and Haridatta Kandel, Chief Administrative Officer of Dhunibesi Municipality – representing authorities from all concerned.

Despite this, vehicular movement was obstructed on Tuesday. Locals have rejected the agreement signed by authorities.

According to Sarita Rai, chief of KMC’s environment department, “communication with the residents is ongoing, and local representatives, including members of Kakani Rural Municipality and Dhunibesi Municipality are holding dialogues with the locals”.

When asked if an agreement with the residents could be arrived, Rai has shared optimism.