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| Kathmandu, Wednesday January 29, 2003 Magh 15, 2059. |
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Illegal constructions around
Swoyambhu Stupa pulled down
By Bikash Sangraula
KATHMANDU, Jan 28 ; Various illegal
constructions around Swyambhu Stupa were pulled down today, after local watchdogs raised
their voice against the deterioration of the world heritage site owing to the daring of
petty entrepreneurs. Swoyambhu has suffered time and again from illegal constructions.
This time, the world heritage status of the area was seriously threatened after the
illegal constructions of several Buddha statues along its eastern entrance, and some
parking sheds and several shops along its western entrance.
On the initiative of Swoyambhu Management and
Conservation General Committee (SMCGC) and the Explore Nepal Group (ENG), an inspection
team, headed by Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, Assistant Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil
Aviation, visited the site last week. Later, a meeting was convened in the ministry to
discuss the matter. The meeting was attended by representatives from Kathmandu
Metropolitan City (KMC), the Department of Archaeology (DoA), District Police Office,
Hanumandhoka and SMCGC.
According to Bishnu Raj Karki, assistant
secretary of DoA, the meeting decided on a smoother co-operation between the institutions
in terms of checking illegal constructions in the area, as well as ensuring the protection
of the world heritage status of the area in all necessary ways. "Now onwards, we will
be witnessing prompt action in case of new endeavours at illegal constructions in the
area," said Karki.
The constructions were demolished by a bulldozer
and men hired by the committee. The demolition took place with the co-operation of the
locals and in the presence of those responsible for the constructions. The locals see the
demolition as immense relief to the site. "We were worried that the site would be
stripped off its world heritage status due to the degradation of its environment,"
says Manandhar.
Though the help came along well and fine this
time, the delay in response has been a source of permanent headache for the committee. The
garbage problem in the area persists. According to Tirtha Narayan Manandhar, chief of
SMCGC, the committee, with the assistance of The Explore Nepal Group (ENG) has been
undertaking weekly cleaning activities in the area and is keeping a vigilant eye on the
constructions.
The problem of managing waste from both the
tourists and the residents, has been a major cause of the environmental degradation of the
area. Previously an unrestricted dumping area for waste from neighbouring areas, the
forest around the Stupa has seen some relief after Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)
arranged for a garbage container and volunteers from SMCGC as well as ENG started cleaning
the area on a weekly basis. However, the dumping problem persists, though in a smaller
form.
According to Bharat Basnet, managing director of
ENG, it is imperative that the government ban the dumping of non-degradable wastes in the
area. "We are holding talks with the ministry to see what could be done in the way of
banning such items in the area," Basnet told The Kathmandu Post.
Though no headway has been made officially in
terms of managing the waste, DoA sources are confident that illegal constructions will not
be undertaken in the area any more. It is worth noting that any construction outside of
the world heritage master plan could be tantamount to accepting the disqualification of
the area of that status.
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