It is a litmus test of the KMC mayor's ability to reclaim the public land used by the private hospital
It is quite common to see people having a close nexus with the power corridors, politicians and high-profile bureaucrats grabbing public lands or leasing them at cheap rates, compared to the market value, for many years to promote their business. Big business houses that have good connections with the government bodies and politicians have been found acquiring public lands belonging to Lalita Niwas, Lumbini Development Trust, Pashupatinath Temple, Sworgadwari Temple, Balmandir, universities, Guthi Sansthan and forests. Most of the public lands located at prime locations have either been illegally captured by the influential people or group of people having an unholy nexus with the politicians and bureaucrats or leased at throwaway prices. It has also been found that those lands are leased out to the influential people by unauthorised persons. There are several government agencies to take care of public lands for the greater interest of the people and community. But these agencies remain mute spectators when it comes to reclaiming the public land occupied illegally by the influential people.
After several media outlets published a news story about Norvic Int'l Hospital at Thapathali illegally occupying 8,200 square feet of government land since 2007 for 20 years at an annual lease rate of Rs 33,000 a year, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) served an ultimatum to remove the structures built on it. Earlier, KMC Mayor Balendra Sah had pasted a notice at the hospital's notice board to remove the illegal structure within 24 hours. However, the hospital officials said it was not possible to do so within the deadline. The hospital authorities also claimed that they had not breached the deal. A technical team of the KMC had earlier stated that the hospital had built permanent structures that were illegal as per the deal with the government. The hospital has sought three months' time to remove the structures it has built.
Why would the then minister of Land Reforms allow the private hospital to use the government property at such a cheap rate when the government-run Maternity Hospital located close to the public land is struggling with scarcity of space? This piece of land could have been given to the Maternity Hospital for permanent use. This is not the first time that public lands located at prime locations in the Kathmandu Valley have been illegally occupied by influential people and businessmen. The government has not taken up the Lalita Niwas land grab case seriously although the CIAA and CIB have filed separate cases against as many as 175 persons involved in registering the government land in the names of individuals following the restoration of democracy in 1990.The Norvic case is a litmus test of whether the independent mayor of the KMC can reclaim the government land by removing the structures built on it. People do not want to see him come under any undue pressure from the powers that be. At the same time, the concerned government agency, such as the CIAA, must take legal action against those who colluded with the business people while leasing the public land to the private hospital. No public land can be leased to individuals without a cabinet decision.
Garbage again
Disposal of the Kathmandu Valley's garbage remains uncertain after vehicles ferrying waste to the landfill site at Bancharedanda were vandalized by the locals on Tuesday. Altogether 14 garbage tippers, two dozers and an excavator were damaged by an unidentified group of people said to be living around the Sisdole road section on the way to Banchardanda. None of the vandals have been identified so far, although Kathmandu's Mayor Balan Sah has vowed to make them pay for carrying out the repairs of these vehicles.
Ever since the new mayor took office in May, he has been facing obstructions of one kind or the other in not only disposing of the city's garbage but also implementing some of his other election promises, such as ridding the footpaths of vendors. True, the residents of the landfill site had put up some reasonable demands, which the Kathmandu municipality and the government must fulfill. But if the locals are playing politics to fail Mayor Sah in his endeavours, then this is most unfortunate. The valley cannot remain hostage to the whims of the locals forever. If need be, the government must take some harsh measures so that the waste that has been piling up on the streets of Kathmandu can be picked up.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 11, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
