KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ discussed the waste management issue in the Kathmandu Valley with officials from the Mayors’ Forum, a joint platform of municipalities in the valley, on Friday.
According to Prime Minister Dahal’s Secretariat, the discussion focused on the roles of the federal and local governments in managing waste in the Kathmandu Valley.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal informed attendees that the Investment Board of Nepal has initiated the process for waste management in the Kathmandu Valley based on the recommendations of the Mayors’ Forum.
“Your forum has recommended that the federal government coordinate waste management in the Kathmandu Valley,” he said, adding, “Accordingly, the government has directed the Investment Board to proceed with this process. The board has discussed this in its meeting and decided to move forward with implementation. This work will now proceed rapidly.”
The meeting was attended by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, and other mayors and deputy mayors from the valley, who discussed coordinated efforts for waste management.
Kathmandu Mayor Balen abstains
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, Balen, did not attend this crucial discussion with the federal government.
The distance between Mayor Balen and the federal government has grown since the Department of Roads intervened in the expansion of New Road’s sidewalks.
In protest, Balen had dumped piles of waste and dust at the offices of the Road Department and Road Division Office Kathmandu.
Balen has previously abstained from similar discussions with the federal government.
He had a dispute with Chiribabu Maharjan, the chair of the Mayors’ Forum and Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.
In November 2023, Balen clashed with Chiribabu at a Mayors’ Forum meeting held at Park Village Resort, demanding the microphone to speak first.
Since then, their relationship has been strained.
Balen left that meeting without speaking and has since remained inactive in the Mayors Forum.
However, the primary responsibility for waste management in the valley falls on Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Despite this, Mayor Balen did not attend Friday’s discussion at Singha Durbar, leaving Deputy Mayor Dangol to represent Kathmandu in the talks with the federal government.
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