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Workshop on sustainable solid waste management concluded

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Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) co-organized a workshop on “Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Nepal ” on Friday, 27thJuly, 2018 at Tokha Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal. The discussion in the workshop focused on managing various types of waste at local level by local government.

Participants in the Tokha Workshop

The technical session of the workshop included four presentations. Dr. Kedar Rijal delivered the first presentation in the workshop in which he highlighted the roles and responsibilities of local government in overall environmental management. Dr. Rijal is a Professor at Central Department of Environmental Science (CDES), Tribhuvan University. He reminded our role for sustainable development approaches and protecting the earth for future generation. Dr. Mohan B. Dangi delivered a keynote talk on Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries. Dr. Mohan Dangi is an Associate Professor at California State University, Fresno, USA, and currently serving as a Fulbright specialist in Nepal. KIAS and CDES jointly invited Dr. Dangi to Nepal for 42 days with support from Fulbright commission. In his talk, Dr. Dangi discussed various aspects of current practices of solid waste management in the context of the national and local level of developing countries. He emphasized composting as a better method for municipal waste management in Nepal as larger proportion of the waste is organic waste characterized by high moisture content. Ms. Bishnu Thakali, who is the president of Women’s Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) provided an exemplary practices of stewardship prevailing in Kathmandu valley that involvedcommunity, home, and vermin composting, paper collection and recycling and bio-gas production from organic (vegetable) waste etc. The technical session concluded with a talk by Dr. Niramal Bista. Dr. Bista provided key suggestions for effective mobilization of resources to strengthen local government.

Ms. Thakali presenting her talk in Tokha workshop.

The workshop was attended by more than 175 participants including local representatives Tokha Municipality: Mayor Mr. Prakash Adhikari, Deputy Mayor Ms. Gyan Maya Dangol, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Krishna P. Subedi and chairs and members of wards. Teachers of high schools, representatives of local organizations also attended the event.

Honorable minister for Forest and Environment, Mr. Shakti Bahadur Basnet provided gracious presence as chief guest. Other dignitaries were Dr. Rejina Maskey Byanju, Professor and Head of CDES and Mr. Yamal Chandra Rajbhandary, Deputy Executive Director of The United States Educational Foundation – Nepal.

The workshop in Tokha was a part of municipal workshop series jointly organized by KIAS and CDES – on the role of local government in environmental management and food safety. KIAS and CDES jointly organized three more similar workshops in Tulsipur Sub – Metropolitan city in Tulsipur, Dang (20thJuly), Namobuddha Municipality in Bhakundebeshi, Kavreplanchwok (30thJuly), and Kamalamai Municipality, Sindhulimadhi, Sindhuli (1stAugust).

Dr. Giri delivering his talk on the importance of clean air, safe water and food safety in Kamalamai Municipality

 

Dr. Dangi delivering his talk on sustainable waste management in Namobuddha Municipality

 

Dr. Dangi during his talk in Tulsipur Municipality, Dang 

 

KIAS would like to thank the members of all four municipalities, the speakers (Dr. Kedar Rijal, Dr. Mohan B. Dangi, Dr. Basant Giri, Dr. Shashidhar Belbase, Dr. Nirmal Bista, and Ms. Bishnu Thakali) for their volunteer support and talks. Fulbright commission provided travel support to Dr. Dangi.

By Shishila Bania