Kathmandu, June 24:

Locals living around the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square area, a heritage site, today urged authorities concerned to ban activities that have been putting the area in peril.

The UNESCO has enlisted the square as one of the Protected Monument Zones.

The locals were speaking at a programme organised by Kathmandu Durbar Kshetra Samrakshan tatha Byawasthapan Mahasamiti.

Mobile shops selling meat products, night markets and couples engaged in offensive activities have been causing inconveniences to passersby, blocking vehicular movement and ruining the entire area, they said.

They also demanded that political programmes and rock concerts be banned in the area immediately.

“Unwanted activities have been going on unabated, thanks to lack of a regularity mechanism,” said Malla K Sundar, a parliamentarian and native of the area. Such activities have spoiled the beauty of the area and given a bad impression to the foreigners, he said. “Initiatives should be taken at the local level to bar such activities.”

The Mahasamiti comprises 15 clubs and organisations working for the preservation of the Durbar square area. K Ranjitkar, spokesperson for the Mahasamiti, said, “The area is associated with our identity. We cannot bear the risk of losing our identity.” Locals should make efforts to preserve the area if the government fails to do the same, he said.

The Mahasamiti, through the mobilisation of locals, plans to carry out different activities to preserve the area, he said. “We plan to mobilise volunteers to check unruly activities and raise awareness among the people to preserve the area. We are lobbying with the government to take measures to preserve the area.”