Halt in Construction of Dhangadhi's Integrated Waste Management Center

Dhangadhi: The construction of the Integrated Waste Management Center in Dhangadhi, Kailali, has hit a temporary standstill.

Despite having entered into an agreement with a Chinese company for the center's construction, progress has been sluggish. Last year, a contract was formalized with a Chinese firm, Sichuan Province Geological Engineering, with a commitment to complete the construction within two years. This significant project, situated within the Patela region of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-7, is part of the Regional Urban Development Project.

The agreement for constructing the Integrated Solid Waste Management Center in Dhangadi was facilitated through a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The agreement outlines a timeline to complete the center's construction at a cost of NPR 96,82,39,646.63.

One notable challenge facing the project is the necessity to clear approximately 2,000 trees from the construction site. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was duly conducted and received approval for the tree removal. The EIA approval was granted on Falgun 15th. However, the actual construction of the center remains on hold.

The delay is attributed to the pending authorization for tree removal, a prerequisite for initiating construction. The initial agreement, made in January of last year, stipulated the completion of the waste management center within a two-year timeframe. The Regional Urban Development Project Office has reported that the Environmental Impact Assessment report for tree removal has been submitted to the Ministry of Forestry. Engineer Saurabh Kalaunile, Information Officer of the Regional Urban Development Project Office in Dhangadhi, clarified that approximately 200 saplings within the 22-hectare construction area need to be removed to proceed with the project.