Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 26:

The Katmandu Metropolitan City’s bid to open track roads along the Bagmati and Bishnumati river is nearing completion, despite minor hurdles. The KMC started the project to open the tracks along the rivers and to widen the existing roads, a month ago. Sources said that the government-owned United Nation’s Park Development Committee (UNPDC) filed a complaint against the KMC project at the deputy chairman’s office but that did not stop the opening of roads. “Somebody did try to stop our bulldozers behind the Maternity Hospital, saying that trees planted by the UNPDC had been mowed down, but the work continued without any problem,” said an official at KMC. Till now, the road along the Thapathali bridge has been opened and the work is going on behind the Bishwa Niketan School, heading to the temple of Teku Pachai Bhairav.

“Along the way, squatters on Banshi Ghat will be dislodged. We have already published public notices calling for vacating the river banks. The squatters seem to be ready to leave the banks any time and I don’t think there will be any problem,” said Dr Bhaikaji Tiwari, project manager of the KMC’s road widening. Tiwari added that those who have the economic capacity to buy trucks, micro-buses and motorcycles could not be considered “landless” people. “They should buy land somewhere around the suburbs. And if they argee, I am hopeful that the government or KMC itself, may help them to acquire their own land,” he said.

The KMC’s project will clear the river banks, encroached by the adjoining landowners and squatters all the way from New Baneshwor to Gaushala. Of late, however, the working pace has turned relatively slow, in comparison to the big-bang begining. “After this, we have plans to open the road along the Bishnumati river from Kalimati Bridge to the Bagmati-Bishnumati junction, along Balkhu vegetable market and along Bishnumati river from Dallu to Shobha Bhagawati temple,” added Tiwari.