The dumping site (waste management center) that Amargadhi Municipality is going to build in the Gunegad-Chhachoda area of ​​Ward 6 for long-term waste management has once again come under controversy after locals protested.

The construction process has been affected due to the obstruction of locals, and waste management in the district headquarters has become more complicated, while service recipients have also been affected due to the lockout of the ward office.

On Thursday morning, a team of Amargadhi Municipality employees, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Municipal Police and a dozer reached the proposed dumping site area, but the team returned without working after locals obstructed it. After that, angry locals have locked the ward office of Amargadhi Municipality-6, shouting slogans against the municipality.

The locals have warned that they will not open the lock until their demands are met. They have warned that if they try to forcefully bring a dozer to work again, they will lock the municipality office itself.

Amargadhi Municipality is preparing to build a modern waste management center at a cost of about Rs 40 million through the Federal Project Implementation Unit. According to the municipality, about 14 ropanis of land has been purchased for the purpose at a cost of Rs 1.8 million, and the detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared and the contract process has been taken forward. However, due to opposition from locals, the construction work has not been able to proceed.

Locals are concerned that if a waste management center is established there, the proposed area is close to drinking water sources, agricultural land and settlements, which will increase environmental pollution, spread bad odor and affect the health of locals.

Prem Tamata, a local of Amargadhi-6, accused the municipality of trying to forcibly bring a dozer to dump waste without the consent of the locals. He said that the municipality should find another suitable place and manage waste systematically. He warned that the lock on the ward office will not be opened until the demand is met, and that the municipality office itself will be locked if the dozer is brought again.

Similarly, Rajendra Tamrakar of Chhachoda said that the plan to bring the entire district's waste near his settlement and dump it was unacceptable.  Although the waste generated from the district headquarters area is currently being temporarily managed in the two-way area leading to Malam village, the municipality says that this solution is not a long-term solution.

Despite repeated discussions with the locals of Chhachoda and Dumda areas, the problem remains as they have not been able to reach an agreement.  On the one hand, the municipality is saying that a systematic waste management center is indispensable, while on the other hand, the locals have been taking a stand that a dumping site should not be built near the settlement and the source of drinking water. 

Tanka Chhetri, ward chairman and sanitation committee coordinator of Amargadhi Municipality-5, said that waste management has become the most complex problem of the municipality. Stating that efforts have been made to find a long-term solution since he was elected, he informed that initially, waste was temporarily managed near the Chamber of Commerce and Industry office for a few months. 

After that, as that place was also not suitable, he said that waste is currently being temporarily managed on the land of the Food Management and Trading Company in Amargadhi-1. But since that place has also been completely filled, he said that it is now difficult to manage more waste there.