Kathmandu, October 2

A writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court today, demanding that the demolition of historic Bag Durbar which suffered damage in the 2015 earthquakes, be halted.

The petition has been filed at a time when Kathmandu Metropolitan City is preparing to move all its 13 departments and divisions operating from the first floor of the building to start demolition work before Dashain.

Heritage conservationists and advocates of Pro-public filed the case, stating that the Department of Archaeology had ‘irresponsibly’ given permission for demolition of the building, which should have been retro-fitted and renovated. It has also stated that the building should be converted into a museum.

A letter sent by the Department of Archaeology on May 29, 2018 had asked KMC to make an inventory of all materials retrieved from the building while demolishing it, and reconstruct the building in compliance with the Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1956.

The Municipal Committee of KMC on the basis of same letter on June 16 had decided to demolish the building. However, on November 1, 2017, the DoA again asked KMC to halt demolition of the building. It had also stated that the building could be made habitable after retrofitting and renovation and no major changes could be made to the original structure of the building.

The DoA letter had also stated that the building was constructed between 1803 and 1804 when Bhimsen Thapa was the prime minister. The Ancient Monument Preservation Act states that buildings older than 100 years must be preserved in its original state.

Holding a press meet on December 15 last year, KMC, however, had said that the building was constructed in 1933 not in 1803 as said by the DoA. It had also said that the building was not  Bag Durbar, but Hari Durbar, which was damaged in the 1934 earthquake and was rebuilt later.

KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya had announced that he would construct a new building for KMC when he took oath of office on May 31, 2017.Activists, locals and conservationists have been demanding that government preserve the building.