Apropos of the news story “SC halts construction of commercial complex” (THT, April 26, Page 2), it is shocking to note that an individual can wield so much power as to flagrantly violate the blueprint approved by the KMC, as already confirmed by the joint team of KMC and KVDA.

Further, the builder has also violated Protected Monument Zone By-laws and the Ancient Monument Preservation Act by illegally building a basement and exceeding the height of limit. If it had been any ordinary mortal’s building

the combined forces of KMC, KVDA, DOA and other bodies would have already demolished the building by force. Besides, the authorities would have also detained the ordinary mortal owner for attaching an important local shrine of Kumari Temple and making it out of bound for the locals to whom it rightfully belongs. As a child, I used to hide in this shrine while playing endless games of hide-and-seek, which was the only sport available to us along with riding our friends as elephants.

I was shocked to see it shut when I took the pain of going to check first hand on the hullabaloo surrounding the forceful attachment of a public religious shrine by a private person. The authorities must demolish the door and take action against the person if the shrine has been removed.

For the information of the public, the shrine was an open one, meaning without any doors.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu

Infrastructure

This is with reference to the editorial “Road to Humla” (THT, April 26, Page 8).

It is very nice to read that the much-needed physical infrastructure such as a road is under construction in Humla, one of the most impoverished districts in the Karnali Province. I find this news may help people living in the remote district of Nepal heave a sigh of relief.

The road, which will also generate job opportunity to hundreds of locals, is the backbone of developmental activities of any nation. This sort of infrastructure, especially in the mountain region, plays a pivotal role to bolstering the overall development of the country.

This is high time we developed the rural areas of Nepal by understanding the essence of decentralisation.

The Karnali Province which is rich in terms of natural resources should focus on building more roads to connect it with the rest of the country.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne

Correction

This is with reference to the news story “Wood gifts Nepal’s school new library on his mom’s 87th birthday” (THT, April 26, Page 1).

Our team was extremely delighted to read a piece on John Wood, the founder of Room to Read, in your esteemed daily. However, I would like to add one minor correction in the story. We at present have eight times more libraries than Carnegie’s, instead of what was published.

Rishi Amatya, Kathmandu