Pratibimba 2019 Pratibimba 2019 | Page 62

k|ltlaDa Nature reflects our nature The Day After Tomorrow (2004) (Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action) Director: Roland Emmerich A thrilling tale of a future world that somehow plunges into a new Ice Age. Food for thought: How relevant is the possibility in the light of global warming? Themes: Ice age, survival, global environmental change Further watching: Before the Flood (2016): after his appointment as the UN Climate Ambassador, Leonardo DiCaprio travels around the globe to observe the causes and consequences of climate change, and human-inflicted environ- mental destruction as he recounts his personal experience. References: tasteofcinema.com imdb.com Bibek Shrestha B.Sc. Environmental Science, (2014-18) [email protected] Municipality Solid waste management Let’s look around our surroundings. What did you see? Is it clean/green or neither? If you see neither then what’s our role being a social animal. Let’s think on this. After an industrial revolution, we know the world has changed drastically. It’s a boon for mankind but at the same time it has been blooming as a curse to man- kind. One of the major pathetic outbreaks is Munici- pal Solid Waste i.e. waste generated by each and ev- ery individual of this planet earth. Though waste can be maneuvered into useful source of energy, some manage to do it and some not. Banepa Municipality is a small historical town which lies 25 km away from Kathmandu valley connect- ing capital city to Tibet in the east via Araniko High- way and to India via B.P. Koirala Highway. It is a fast-growing business hub currently and also a place for business earlier comprising of 8 different temples and ponds. A place with its own unique culture, festi- vals and tradition. Despite that Banepa is turning out to be a pathetic spot especially in solid waste man- agement. Municipal Solid Waste Management is one of the most emerging issue in Banepa. It is also one of the top high budgeted expenditure of the Municipality. On last fiscal annual financial report published by Bane- pa Municipality, the amount of expenditure for Mu- nicipal Solid Waste and Sewerage is equivalent to NRs.5,000,000. Though, the amount seems reason- able but the problem is not solved yet and becoming severe day by day. It is roughly estimated that Bane- pa Municipality generates about 30 tons of waste ev- ery day. Most of this waste ended up in dumping site based on Shree Khandapur. Currently, it has been closed due to public outrage and is transported to Sisdole land fill site. Although, municipal solid waste was collected once a week or month but within these time frame, waste generated are not managed cor- rectly. Households waste are not segregated and is dumped into one bag or polyethene. In addition, waste is dumped in an open place far from their own households. Due to this littering of waste, residents are prone to air and water borne diseases (influx of different types of bacteria). At the same time, it has also degraded cleanliness and hygiene of city and problems of sewerage blockage, clean river water, loss of aquatic and terrestrial lives and others. This cycle of waste mismanagement has created a lot of nuisances especially to biotic (plants, animals, hu- mans) and abiotic (air, water and soil) components. Outbreak of disease is being seen currently. We came across problems generated by Munici- pal Solid Waste in the community. Now, let’s focus on how we can get rid of these problems i.e. THE SOLUTION. We can take traditional and technology approaches. Traditionally, what we need to do is to segregate municipal solid waste into compartments especially biodegradable, wet, and non – biodegrad- able, dry waste using two different collection bins. Biodegradable or natural waste collected can be con- verted into compost manure by treating biodegradable waste under aerobic conditions whereas manmade Nature and Social Concern Society 62