Construction of a landfill site at Banchare Danda, Nuwakot, is still in limbo while the dumping ground in Sisdole is nearing its full capacity. 

The Sisdole site can accommodate the solid wastes from Kathmandu Valley till May before it runs out of space, officials at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) said. 

Sisdole was originally meant to be a temporary dumping ground for three years. But it continues to serve as the final resting place of wastes generated by the Valley since 2005.

“This place was like a paradise before. It is an absolute hell now. We haven’t breathed a fresh air for ages,” complained Santamaya Balami, a Sisdole resident.

The Valley waste management has already been met by several obstructions at the hands of Sisdole locals in the past. While the KMC has started providing compensation to 300 households living within 900-metre radius of Sisdole landfill, it means little to them when they have to put up with foul stink, environmental pollution and disease risks everyday. 

The sooner the authorities complete the Banchare Danda landfill facility the better, say Sisdole residents. 

But the authorities are nowhere near completing the landfill site at Banchare Danda, which is located about 2km west of Sisdole.

Rabin Man Shrestha, the KMC’s environment division chief, said it was going to take at least two more years for the landfill site in Banchare Danda to come into operation. 

 “It is a big project which is going to cost an estimated Rs 210 billion to complete. We are trying to secure the necessary funds from the government and other concerned authorities to operate a proper landfill site to manage the waste generated from the Kathmandu Valley,” he said.

The government has acquired 1,742 ropanis of land in Banchare Danda to build the landfill facility.