Original article written by: Arjun Poudel
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the largest and most densely populated in Nepal, has undergone a significant positive transformation under the leadership of Mayor Balendra Shah. Previously plagued by perennial waste management issues, the city now boasts cleanliness and organized urban management. Dust-free streets, green traffic islands adorned with flowers, well-maintained pavements, repaired street lights, and the removal of visual pollution from hoarding boards showcase the city's aesthetic improvement. Mayor Shah's initiatives have also led to a reduction in road accidents caused by stray cows, beautified tiled walkways, and the regular implementation of practices such as road sweeping, swift garbage removal, and pothole covering, contributing to a more livable and visually appealing urban environment.
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is actively tackling urban cleanliness and management, recently hiring 300 cleaning staff to collect waste from public spaces. Supported by 100 workers from the Prime Minister Employment Programme, the city has successfully cleared tons of litter from prominent areas, addressing long-standing waste issues. Additionally, the KMC is emphasizing waste segregation, introducing 4,000 dustbins for responsible disposal, and implementing eco-friendly practices such as generating electricity from degradable waste.
Furthermore, the city is championing animal welfare with shelters for stray cows and dogs, leading to a decline in traffic accidents involving these animals. Proactive measures include sterilizing dogs and administering anti-rabies vaccines. The KMC's holistic approach extends to environmental concerns, banning plastic-wrapped tobacco sales and enhancing urban aesthetics by beautifying traffic islands, bridges, and footpaths. These efforts underscore the city's commitment to creating a cleaner, organized, and visually appealing urban environment.
Conclusion:
While experts acknowledge Kathmandu Metropolitan City's visible cleanliness, there's a pressing yet-to-do list. Key issues include incomplete infrastructure for blind pedestrians, unplanned tree plantation, unregulated parking, and indiscriminate dumping of construction materials along footpaths. Urgent improvements are needed in managing traffic lights, vehicular traffic, parking, open spaces, local roads, infrastructure, parking arrangements, traffic congestion, public toilets, and river pollution. Effectively addressing these chronic issues is crucial for realizing the city's cleanliness goals and ensuring a well-organized urban environment.