Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 8:

A board meeting of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) today decided to run a public bus service in the city on its own.

Currently, the denizens are facing a lot of trouble as most of the buses head for garages after dusk. Taxis, too, are not available at odd hours. This move is expected to give some sort of relief to the denizens.

"The public is sick and tired of the monopoly of bus owners. They deserve better. I am sure our buses will provide better services," said deputy mayor Rajaram Shrestha, addressing the board meeting.

A three-member committee, led by Keshav Dhwaj Rana, chairman of ward number 9, will carry out a feasibility study on the operation of public bus service.

The KMC also decided to spend Rs 25 million for the maintenance of infrastructure at the Ganesh Man Singh Path, where hundreds of gardens were demolished to broaden the road.

In response to the proposal of Ward-2 chairman, Ramesh Dangol, the KMC committed to provide financial assistance for his second bid to scale Mt Everest.

The KMC is also developing 11 packages for road maintenance with participation of the local people and the Road Board Nepal.

Ward chairmen also urged the KMC to go tough against newspapers which publish advertisements without prior consent of the KMC and then press it for payment.

Stinky bottled water

KATHMANDU: The KMC board meeting was disrupted when the ward chairmen found that the mineral water, which was served during the meeting, was stinking and had a bad taste. A dozen Bisleri mineral water bottles were brought for the meeting and all members said that the water was unhygienic. Many of the ward chairmen smelt "some sort of corruption in the whole episode". "The water will be tested in the KMC lab and action will be taken against the firm if the water is found substandard," deputy mayor Rajaram Shrestha said as the uproar of the members got out of control. — HNS