Aug 25, Kathmandu - Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan has said that the federal government should take the lead in finding a long-term solution to the Kathmandu Valley's waste management. Maharjan, who is also the chairman of the Kathmandu Valley Mayors Forum, made it clear at a press conference organized by the forum that the local level alone cannot manage the valley's waste management. He stressed that the federal government should formulate a long-term plan based on scientific studies and research and implement it.

Mayor Maharjan said that although the Constitution and the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS give the responsibility of waste management to the local level, it would not be practical for the 18 local levels of the Kathmandu Valley to operate separate waste treatment centers.

Maharjan mentioned that the federal government's leadership is still needed as the government had made arrangements for waste management in Sisdol for the then seven municipalities in the past.

He said that the problem has increased because the federal government has not been able to manage Sisdol and Bancharedanda effectively. Mayor Maharjan complained that the legal complications have increased for the local level as the government's agreements on waste management with Nepwest and Finnish companies have not been implemented yet.

Admitting that local residents are being affected by garbage in Sisdol and Bancharedanda, Maharjan opined that garbage and settlements should not be kept in the same place. He stressed that the federal government should conduct further studies and take the lead in relocating the affected settlements and alternative management.

Similarly, the Valley Mayors Forum is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Balen Shah and inform him about garbage management. The Valley Mayors Forum meeting held on Tuesday informed that it will arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Shah as soon as possible and draw his attention to garbage management, street light fee management, land tenure rights being used by the local level, and land management for garbage management.