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Kathmandu Thursday November 16, 2000 Mangshir 01, 2057.
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Stop encroachment
The recent decision by
Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to stop the construction of a building beside
Ranipokhari is welcome. Such illegal constructions are threatening cultural heritage sites
throughout Kathmandu. KMC ought to take strict action against such activities and bring
out a clear directive as to prevent illegal construction. The encroachment of public
property must be stopped at all costs.
The Public Garden and
Auditorium Development Committee (PGADC) which looks after Ranipokhari had earlier leased
the land at the north-west corner of Ranipokhari to a private individual without proper
clearance from KMC. The construction work had started for quite some time despite the
absence of clearance from the mapping department of KMC. It was only the media outcry and
vigilance of the Department of Archaeology (DoA) that forced KMC to act. KMC and the
Ministry of Local Development (MLD) has now issued directives to halt the construction
project and to demolish the structure. Already surrounded by buildings on three sides, a
new shopping mall was being built close to it threatening the cultural significance of the
historic site. This has thankfully come to a halt.
Kathmandu valley is full of
temples, viharas and other places of religious and cultural significance. They are the
relics left by our proud ancestors and the symbol of our living culture which has made
Nepal famous abroad. The thousands of tourists who visit Nepal are naturally attracted to
these artifacts. However, the authorities have been unable to protect these sites which
are increasingly under the threat of growing urbanization and uncontrolled building
constructions. An another example of the boom in construction business is the multistorey
construction project being undertaken near Sundhara. Feasibility study is lacking in most
construction projects. A report conducted by a Japanese study group suggested that the
soil in Kathmandu is soft and thus unsuitable for large construction projects upto the
depth of 20 meters. KMC and other regulatory bodies should keep this in mind. Minimum
standards and guidelines must be enforced before the go-ahead is given to large scale
construction projects.
There are other instances of
violations of directives issued by KMC. For example, the restriction on construction close
to major rivers in the valley has been frequently violated. The restriction on
construction close to roads is also not well enforced. Instead, KMC has resorted to
periodic enforcement. Scenes of illegal construction being demolished was common some
years ago. However, it is not a familiar sight these days and this indicates the
indifference of authorities to this problem. KMC must be vigilant about preventing
activities which threaten national heritage sites in Kathmandu as well as roads and
rivers.
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