Valley
Five jets add thrust to city’s cleaning drive
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Saturday officially launched its five new jet machines to mark the World Cleanup Day (WCD) on Saturday.Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Saturday officially launched its five new jet machines to mark the World Cleanup Day (WCD) on Saturday.
KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya inaugurated the new machines at an event in Santi Batika, Ratnapark.
The metropolis spent Rs 28.5 million to buy the machines two months ago. Each machine has 130 horsepower and can hold 6,000 litres of water supplied from Balaju Baisdhara Park.
KMC’s spokesperson Gyanendra Karki said, each machine has capacity to hold 5,000 litres water and 1,000 litres of sewage in two separate tanks.
The smaller tank will store sewage from drain and water from the larger tank will clean blocked drains.
“Now we will not have to use a separate machine.
This will help us to remove the blocked drainage too,” said Karki.
The use of high-pressure jetting pump and 120-metre jetting pipe would remove sewage faster.
With the help of a spray gun, the machine will clean the leaf of saplings and trees to make it dust free.
Speaking at the event Mayor Shakya said, “Using only machines cannot keep the city clean. People should change their mentality first and should feel responsible for managing the solid waste produced from their households.”
Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi urged the KMC to change its method of cleaning. “Removing the dust and dumping it into drainage should stop. It may keep the road clean, but block the whole drainage system,” he said.
On the Cleanup day, the metropolis cleaned areas in Ratnapark, Ranipokhari, Bagbajar, Putalisadak and Bhrikutimandap under KMC’s Environment Division.
The metropolis used four machines to clean main roads to prepare for the fourth the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Summit that Kathmandu hosted on August 30 and 31.