KATHMANDU: Lalitpur District Education Officer Dilnath Puri said Karma Lama built retrofitted retention wall almost two months ago without seeking technical clearance from the concerned body.

“He erected the seven-feet tall wall against 6.5-feet prefab school. Not only that, the person put soil  on top of the wall,” Puri said and added that the school also erred by not lodging complaints against the owner of the land  about the dangers the seven feet tall wall  could pose to the school.

Puri said he was holding dialogue with officials of concerned government bodies and the local administration had issued directives to take action against those responsible for the tragedies. Puri said the concerned bodies would also try to ensure that victims get compensation.

Executive Officer of Godavari Municipality Rom Bahadur Mahat said Karma Lama, who had plotted the land, had not taken permission from Kathmandu Valley Development Authority to retrofit the wall.

“He (Lama) did not take permission from KVDA or Godavari Municipality,” Mahat said. He further said the neighbours, including the school management, should have lodged complaints against the erection of the wall.

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Mahat said he believed that Karma Lama was the owner of the land but if somebody else proved to be the owner, they would also face legal action.

Chief Executive Officer of Lalitpur Municipality Bharat Mani Pandey said rules enacted after the 2015 earthquake mandate the owners to take permission from the municipality even to erect boundary walls.

Chief District Officer of Lalitpur Rishi Ram Sharma said the person who erected the wall had been absconding and the police were investigating into the matter.