Pokhara, 13 February | Garbage collection in the tourism capital, Pokhara, which had been stalled for the past two weeks, finally resumed on Thursday evening. The city had faced severe criticism as piles of waste accumulated at major intersections and along roadsides, creating a foul stench and public health concerns. The crisis was triggered after the temporary landfill site at Lameahal in Pokhara-32 reached its full capacity. Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya confirmed that collection vehicles have started operating gradually and assured that all accumulated waste from the market area will be cleared by Saturday.
While the metropolis has begun clearing the streets, it remains tight-lipped about the specific location for the current disposal. The waste management challenge intensified recently due to a surge in debris following the Gen-Z protests, which overwhelmed existing temporary sites. Plans to establish a permanent waste processing center in Pokhara-33 have faced continuous setbacks due to fierce opposition from local residents, who accuse the city office of moving forward without proper coordination or transparency. An all-party meeting held on Wednesday reached a consensus to cooperate on the issue, with political leaders pledging not to politicize the crisis and to assist the city in clearing the backlog within 72 hours. Mayor Acharya has urged residents not to dump waste in public spaces and warned that monitoring teams will take strict action against offenders caught littering during this transition period.
