Pokhara’s landfill is not decided yet

POKHARA: Before the first flight from Pokhara International Airport, the Pokhara landfill site must be removed. Pokhara, which has been looking for a landfill site for three and a half years, has yet to find one. It was decided two years ago to make the Pokhara 16 and 20 border a landfill, but the decision was withdrawn due to local opposition.

Following that, various locations in Pokhara-33 were proposed. The metropolitan area is in disarray after locals also obstructed it. The city is looking for an appropriate location for landfill site management. Mayor Dhanraj Acharya stated that the metropolitan was constantly looking for a suitable location but was unable to find one.

Now that there is talk on social media about the city moving the landfill to Pokhara 33, he says the location has not been decided. We are all aware that Pokhara International Airport will open on January 1. ‘For that, the management of the landfill site, which should be managed by the Pokhara Metropolitan Municipality, is a challenge for us,’ he says, adding that he has studied seven different locations so far. But this location has yet to be determined.’

Acharya stated that they are observing in numerous locations and that the locals are only suspicious. ‘We’re going to look at a lot of places.’ ‘Locals have speculated, doubted, and it has been discussed on social media here and there,’ he added. But we haven’t decided where to manage the landfill site.’ The city has asked that no unnecessary fuss be made on social media about the unresolved matter.

According to the metropolitan, waste will not be managed in the same way that it was at the Pokhara 14 landfill site. Pokhara’s work, from waste management to the operation of the international airport, requires everyone’s cooperation, according to Acharya. The landfill site appears to be an impediment to the operation of Pokhara International Airport, which is in the final stages of preparing for the calibration flight.

The work of cutting Rithepani hills is currently underway. The soil from that location has been used to replenish the currently active landfill site. The calibration flight will take place in the second week of Mangsir. ‘We are currently managing the landfill site. We have to manage some short-term and some long-term management by doing this,’ he explained. Only then will we present a long-term strategy.’ He claims that the metropolitan will not interfere with airport operations.

-Prakash Dhakal/MK