Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Urban Development apprised the parliamentarians of the preparation of a complementary environment report in the wake of completion of the environment impact assessment of the Bhancharedanda landfill site. The Bancharedanda landfill site along with Sisdol landfill site are currently being used as waste disposal places of the Kathmandu Valley’s wastes.
According to National News Agency Nepal, responding to the queries of the lawmakers in the meeting of the National Assembly on Tuesday, DPM Singh said studies were being carried out to find alternative access routes to Sisdol and Bancharedanda. Singh informed that of the 40 meters high structure planned for the landfill sites, 25 meters was over so far, while other necessary infrastructures were already in place.
He mentioned that the procurement process to increase the height of the structure to contain waste was taken forward and handed over to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) for operation. Furthermore, he asserted that efforts are ongoing to address the demands of the residents residing nearby the landfill sites as much as possible. The management of effluent in the landfill sites is also underway, he added.
Singh informed that his Ministry was coordinating efforts with the KMC and other concerned agencies for systematic disposal of waste, control of bacteria generated from the waste, and segregation of waste for electricity generation. Also, collaboration is going on to establish plants for producing compost and set up raw material processing centers, he explained.
He also revealed that the Ministry was currently revising the amendment draft of the Solid Waste Management Act-2068 BS. He shared that the ‘Janata Awas Karkyakram’ (People Housing Programme) was handed over to the provincial government and is being implemented at present.
The DPM further clarified that the incumbent government has not shirked from implementing the decisions of the previous government to relocate human settlements in remote places and areas at high risk of natural disasters to safer locations and to elevate marginalized communities out of backwardness.