Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 15

The locals of Mhaypi hill, with the famous Yogambar temple on top, have finally decided to protect the hill from landslides. The hill was partially destroyed by a massive landslide in August last year.

"We are going to make a gabion wall in the middle of the hill from the money collected by the local residents. We hope that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City will help us," said Amir Kaji Sthapit, the chairperson of the Mhaypi Conservation and Management Committee today.

A meeting was held yesterday in which the locals, ward committee members and engineers from the KMC participated. "Despite minor complications, we are committed to protect the holy hill from further landslides," he said. A large-scale master plan is being developed to turn the holy hill, with a dense forest and newly-developed residential area, into a green park. Sthapit said that the Mhaypi hill would be a major attraction for the youth of the city who are in need of a green park.

Chairman of Ward No 16 Laxmi Ratna Tuladhar said that the KMC is sure to support the Mhaypi hill project. "The KMC grant would be discussed in the board meeting scheduled for tomorrow," he said. The committee has already started the construction of the base wall with the support from the Department of Urban Development and the Department of Roads.