KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 19
Government bodies that have long been facing criticism for encroaching and occupying Khula Manch have once again faced similar vitriol after Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Mayor Balendra Shah wanted to construct a three-storey underground building in Khula Manch.
Criticisms from the general public, heritage activists, conservationists and stakeholders have started to grow after the 10th executive meeting of KMC on November 15 approved a proposal to prepare a Detailed Project Report for construction of a three-storey underground parking facility in the Khula Manch (open theatre).
Mayor Shah, who has gained an image of 'doer' in the city, has long been interested in using the open area in the heart of the city after being elected the municipal head.
Conservationists and heritage activists who were involved in conservation of Rani Pokhari and other heritage sites, including the popular 'Occupy Tundikhel' campaign told THT that Shah had sought help to build structures in Khula Manch from the very beginning. "I personally had asked the mayor to stay away from Khula Manch as it was the only remaining open space in our city, after he sought support from us to build structures there," said heritage activist Ganapati Lal Shrestha. Shrestha is one of the major initiators of the 'Occupy Tundikhel' campaign, which was organised to spread awareness about the importance of open space in urban areas, exert pressure on the government to make more open areas, and provide free and easy access inside Khula Manch.
Khula Manch, which had provided refuge to thousands of people during the 2015 earthquakes, was occupied by bus park and was used for storing construction materials in the post-earthquake reconstruction era. It was finally freed of encroachment in April 2019 following widespread pressure from the public and campaigners.
But, fracas over Khula Manch did not seem to end as the authority under Mayor Shah, a beacon of hope, decided to exploit the very limited open space as a parking areas.
"We had pinned high hopes on action-oriented approach of the young mayor who has portrayed the image of an action oriented mayor. But the way he has made the decision to prepare DPR in the area shows he does not value the opinions of stakeholders while creating such infrastructures in our cities," said Aalok Siddhi Tuladhar, a prominent 'Occupy Tundikhel' campaigner. Tuladhar said the KMC could not begin the DPR without conducting pre-feasibility test or holding talks with stakeholders and locals.
Activists have also asked Mayor Shah to continue with clearing the parking lot built inside private buildings which was well received by majority of people. People took to social media to suggest that the underground parking being constructed in Dharahara and another in Old Bus Park just around the corner from Khula Manch, if implemented properly, could ease the parking problem of Kathmandu.
Mayor Shah's secretary Bhoopa Dev Shah said the building would not hamper the open space of Khula Manch.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 20, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
