Local Residents Protest Construction of Waste Processing Plant Near Hospital, School in Thapathali

A dispute has erupted over the construction of a waste processing plant by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on five ropanis of public land behind the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Thapathali.

Locals have voiced strong opposition, alleging that the metropolitan city and the ward chairperson have moved forward with the project without conducting an environmental impact assessment. They claim the facility will adversely affect the nearby hospital, a school, and human settlements.

Rajesh Shrestha, chairperson of the Thapathali Development Forum, accused the metropolis of pushing the decision through Ward No. 11 without any consultation with local residents. According to Shrestha, the ward had decided nearly two years ago to assign a private company to build the facility, but locals only recently learned of the plan.

The proposed waste processing site is adjacent to the Thapathali Maternity Hospital and Euro Kids School, and lies close to Norvic International Hospital and the historic Panchayan Temple.

"The stench from the processing center will likely have adverse health effects on patients, new mothers, and newborns at the hospital, as well as on young children attending the school," Shrestha said. He added that the location, being near residential areas, a hospital, and a school, is unsuitable for such a facility.

According to KMC, the waste collection center, with an estimated cost of Rs 46.194 million, has a capacity to process 91.17 metric tons per day.

Speaking to New Business Age, a local resident expressed strong disapproval of building a waste management facility close to the hospital.

"Sensitive work like waste management should be carried out far from settlements and hospitals. Here, they are flouting river zone standards and increasing flood risks," the resident said.

The resident also warned of worsening traffic congestion. "Even now, vehicle pressure is extremely high in the area. After garbage trucks start arriving, the situation will become even more complicated. During office hours, small roads are already jammed. With 20 to 30 garbage trucks daily, it will be a nightmare."

The metropolitan city has divided the city into seven clusters for waste management, and the Thapathali plant is part of that plan. Cluster No 2 includes Thapathali, Singha Durbar, Bag Bazar, New Baneshwar, and Ghattekulo.

Locals have blamed Ward No 11 Chairperson Hiralal Tandukar for expediting the project. However, Tandukar defended himself, stating that while the plan has been in motion for nearly two years, he had consistently argued against building a waste collection center near a sensitive site like the maternity hospital.

"I had said from the beginning that such a structure should not be built close to the maternity hospital. But due to pressure from then Mayor Balen Shah (now Prime Minister), I could not reject it," he said, adding that he acknowledges such a structure is not suitable near human settlements, hospitals, and schools.

Citing a lack of suitable locations for waste management, Tandukar noted that the metropolis must search for alternative sites for a long-term solution.

The Kathmandu Valley produces more than 1,200 metric tons of solid waste daily, 60 percent of which comes from the metropolitan city alone. Of the total waste, 60 percent is decomposable, while 30 percent is recyclable. Currently, the valley's waste is disposed of at the landfill site in Banchare Danda, located on the border of Nuwakot and Dhading districts.