Pokhara Plagued by Stench as Political Promises on Waste Management Fail to Materialize

Pokhara. “No more just voices, now it's action. From journalist to parliamentarian. Uttam has arrived to shake up the system.” Campaign vehicles race through the streets of Pokhara blaring this slogan to solicit votes for Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Uttam Paudel. While the party campaigns on a platform of clean politics, it appears to be overlooking the stench that has plagued Pokhara for nearly a month and a half.

CPN-UML candidate Rashmi Acharya stated in her manifesto that she would establish an industry to convert Pokhara's waste into energy and compost fertilizer. “To manage the waste in the municipal area, necessary incentives will be provided in coordination with local levels to establish a technologically advanced industry for converting waste into energy and compost fertilizer,” her manifesto reads. However, the project for constructing a waste processing center in her own ward is currently stalled, despite the contract having already been awarded by the Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Nepali Congress candidate Madhav Prasad Bastola (Madhu) mentioned a campaign for a clean Pokhara in his commitment. “I will take firm initiatives for the construction of a clean, beautiful, and hygienic Pokhara by scientifically managing the solid waste,” he wrote. However, he has not made a single phone call to the Metropolitan City to manage the foul-smelling waste in Pokhara immediately.

After numerous failed attempts, Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, exasperated, wrote on social media on Wednesday, “It has taken some time to reach a conclusion due to the double standards of our political parties and local friends regarding waste disposal. The situation has repeated itself like a game of Ludo time and again.”

The Pokhara Metropolitan City secured commitments from political parties at the end of Magh to resolve the waste problem.

Waste was collected for a few days, but the problem remains the same now. Mayor Acharya complained that although political parties committed their support in the assembly hall, they failed to communicate this to the grassroots structure.

“The political parties raised their hands together in the assembly hall saying they would support us. In practice, the friends at the lower level appeared a bit more aggressive,” he said. “Currently, not all political parties are cooperating in this matter. No one from the old parties can escape by just blaming them; both new and old parties are involved in the obstruction.”

After leaving the assembly hall where they pledged support, the Metropolitan City planned temporary management in Ward No. 21. CPN-UML issued a statement warning against dumping waste there. The Ward Committee Chairman demanded an immediate halt to bringing waste, citing concerns for public health and long-term environmental impact.

Previously, preparations were underway to construct a processing center in Ward No. 33. Even when the contract was awarded and the construction process began, locals obstructed the work. The Ward Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party issued a statement warning that a processing center would not be allowed to be built in Pokhara Ward 33.

“We have already signed an agreement for the waste processing center through an international tender for a permanent solution. That work will begin after the elections,” Mayor Acharya added. “For the immediate term, we have finalized three locations for waste disposal for at least one year. We will move forward with that after the 21st; the work will not stop now.”

Once field work started for the construction of the processing center, nearby residents gathered and surrounded the Ward Office of Ward No. 33. The next day, slogans were shouted in front of the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee office.

Until some time ago, waste was being disposed of in Lame Aahal, Ward No. 32 of Pokhara. The collection stopped after the gorge next to the Seti River was filled up. The Metropolitan City has been unable to proceed with its work of searching for land in various locations for temporary management due to local obstruction.

“After things are settled somewhere, people who are not even concerned come and instigate. Somewhere else, they harass us by making unreasonable demands,” Acharya says. “Currently, three locations have been surveyed and finalized. If there is no obstruction, the waste will be collected now.”

The Metropolitan City has already managed the waste collected around the airport. The Metropolis announced that trucks will be dispatched starting Thursday to manage the remaining waste on the streets.

Ujyalo Nepal Party candidate Kushal Gurung advocates for finding a scientific and long-term solution.

Candidates who are dreaming of building the nation during the elections are not showing much responsibility regarding the daily stench of garbage. The Metropolitan City has already signed a contract worth NPR 800 million for the construction of a waste processing center in Ward No. 33. Many candidates are not even speaking about the waste issue for fear of losing votes.