Mayors Forum Decides On Sustainable Waste Management In Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu, Feb 20: The Valley Mayors Forum has decided to collaborate with the federal government to study the scientific and sustainable management of waste produced in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Waste Management Study and Coordination Committee has stated that, in addition to studying the methods and technologies of waste management, it will collaborate with the government to facilitate support, coordination, and collective management among all local levels as needed.

The Forum's 13th meeting held in Kathmandu, on Thursday and chaired by Forum Chairperson and Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor, Chiribabu Maharjan, decided to formulate laws and develop a master plan for the bicycle lane from Godavari to Budhanilkantha, and to collaborate with the government for infrastructure development and operation.

There is a lot of work to be done to cooperate and coordinate for making the life of the Valley denizens easier by developing the Kathmandu Valley in an integrated manner. The Forum's current vision aligns with this.

After the meeting, Forum Chairman Maharjan stated that the local levels of the Valley are ready to cooperate with the federal government for implementing the Metro Concept and stated that they are prepared to construct and operate the infrastructure according to this concept.

In the meeting, Acting Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Sunita Dangol, stated that while operating public transport, it is necessary to collaborate with the government to construct infrastructure by selecting an appropriate medium that suits the geography of the Valley, the originality of settlements, and the cultural and social practices.

She opined that in order to reach a concrete conclusion about which studies on public transport systems are appropriate, it is necessary to review past studies.

"Problems are endless; results come not by insisting solely on one's own opinion within an administrative framework, but through recognising the coexistence of local levels in the Valley and collaborating in a coordinated manner," Dangol said.

Forum Chairman Maharjan said that the analysis of the previously conducted study report for the operation of public transport in the Valley and the suitable format for the Valley will be presented in the upcoming meeting.

According to KMC Acting Mayor Dangol, waste management, operation of public transport, drinking water supply and river protection, conservation of the river civilization, food hygiene, disaster management, and reducing the impacts of climate change are the perennial problems and the Forum should take the onus to solve these problems.