KATHMANDU, JULY 2

In a bid to 'protect' public land, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided to put a wire fence around Lalita Niwas complex.

The controversy related to this complex has recently been grabbing headlines as the land on this government-owned complex, had been transferred to the names of various private individuals.

The KMC has asked all to remove illegal structures built inside the complex, which houses the prime minister's residence, Nepal Rastra Bank's central office, and the houses of VIPs, that were built without permission from the local government.

A group of city police reached the site today to look at what kind of structures were built there.

Bhoopa Dev Shah, a member of the secretariat of KMC's mayor told THT that private parking, canteens, and other structures operated inside the public space were asked to clear within seven days.

'We have also decided to wire-fence the area as it is the local government's duty to protect government-owned land as the federal government cannot always do this,' Shah said.

Shah, however, stressed that their move would not hamper police investigation or the court's procedures related to public land.

Police have been carrying out investigation into the land grab comprising more than 143 ropani (over 78,000 square feet) of land area which has been transferred to private ownership. The case is also sub-judice in the Special Court.

The KMC said that the protection and preservation of the land will be completed after the order of the court.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.