NTNC supported the initiative and WEPCO is grateful for their help. Before the camp could take place, several meetings were held in the Kupondole community leading to the formation of the ‘Kupondole Rajtritha Bagmati Sudhar Samiti’ which is coordinated by Bishnu Thakali of WEPCO.

On June 6th all community members, local police and local youth club members joined the clean up camp. Other contractors were hired to operate cleaning equipment and removed the waste in to the care of Lalipur Municipal Council.

Until July 2nd 10 people were working regularly to clean the area.

Why is this camp needed? Waste in the Bagmati river tends to build up around the bridge area, blocking the water and trapping more waste causing a very smelly, unheathly environment. This in turn encourages more waste dumping at this spot.

By cleaning up the mountain of waste, the river water is flowing more freely and the smell faced by local people is reduced.

Its hard to say how long the cleaner situation will last. Certain people are used to dumping waste there. However local people are much more aware of the situation and that even the banks of the Bagmati can be cleaned up.

“Until there is strongly implemented law about dumping,” says Bishnu Thakali, “this kind of clean up will have to happen frequently.”

As you next pass the Bagmati bridge, take time to notice the difference, at least while it lasts!

This [KMC's] expensive system doesn’t include integrated SWM practices, such as waste minimization at the source of generation, followed by reuse of waste with possible substitution, recycling, decentralized composting, and finally deposit of residual waste. Instead, efforts in KMC have consistently prioritized land-filling even though facilities have been inappropriate and ineffective.

And he is right. The answers are in front of our noses, sometimes too literally. WEPCO has been promoting segregation of household organic and inorganic waste for many years now. It takes time, energy and creativity to mobilise people to change their view of waste. But when it works, it works well, sustainably and at low cost.

Read the full article here: http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2009/others/guestcolumn/feb/guest_columns_04.php