Nepali Congress MP Sita Thapaliya Criticizes Government Over Sisdol Landfill Issues

Nepali Congress Member of Parliament Sita Thapaliya has stated that the state has been committing extreme injustice and betrayal against the local residents of Sisdol and Bancharedanda, the waste disposal sites of the Kathmandu Valley, for the past 21 years.

Participating in the discussion on the upcoming fiscal year's budget in the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, MP Thapaliya strongly criticized the government, accusing it of playing with the health and lives of its own citizens.

MP Thapaliya said that although waste disposal began with the condition of finding an alternative location within 3 years in the year 2062 BS, even after 21 years, the locals are still forced to live amidst stench, smoke, and disease. 'This is one of the longest betrayals by the state against its own citizens,' she said.

She mentioned that due to the leaching of waste in the Bancharedanda and Sisdol areas, rivers and streams have become polluted, leading to an increase in the number of patients suffering from skin problems, respiratory issues, and serious diseases like cancer among the locals. Expressing her anger, she stated that this painful situation faced by the citizens has not touched the Prime Minister nor jolted the Finance Minister.

MP Thapaliya said that the budget is completely silent on this issue. She objected to the fact that arable land is becoming barren, but no compensation has been arranged for the victims.