KATHMANDU, AUGUST 27, 2013 - Locals of Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka have filed a complaint at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against the government demanding investigation into the deal between the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and a private company Sidewalkers.
Heritage Conservation Struggle Committee, a local group of Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square area residents, filed a case at CIAA on Tuesday against the KMC, Sidewalkers, Ministry of Local Development and the Ministry of Culture. They are demanding an investigation into an agreement on merging the ticket charge of Hanuman Dhoka and Dharahara for international tourists.
Similarly, a complaint has also been filed against nine officials of the metropolis and Sidewalkers. The locals vexed at the deal signed by KMC with Sidewalkers to charge additional Rs 250 on the existing Rs 750 ticket for foreign tourists, which would force them to visit Dharahara when they come to the Durbar Square, are in protest since April. Sidewalker is the same company that was awarded the contract to develop the Dharahara as tourist place by the KMC in 2004.
The locals have been pressurizing the KMC to withdraw the agreement with private contractors to charge common fee to the tourists coming to visit either Basantapur or Dharahara.
“We can´t allow the government to hand over the world heritage site to private entrepreneurs,” said Shyam Manandhar, coordinator of the committee. "The KMC was not willing to cancel the agreement, which compelled us seek the anti-graft body´s intervention."
As per the KMC data, around 400 tourists visit the world heritage site per day, whereas the number reaches 800 during the peak season.
The series of meeting held between the locals of Basantapur and the KMC officials on resolving the issue ended inconclusively.
The contractor have defended the agreement saying that they have enough evidence to prove they had consulted the local people and also received consent of Nepal Tourism Board, Department of Archaeology and the UNDP before going ahead with the plan. News Source: Myrepublica.com
Heritage Conservation Struggle Committee, a local group of Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square area residents, filed a case at CIAA on Tuesday against the KMC, Sidewalkers, Ministry of Local Development and the Ministry of Culture. They are demanding an investigation into an agreement on merging the ticket charge of Hanuman Dhoka and Dharahara for international tourists.
Similarly, a complaint has also been filed against nine officials of the metropolis and Sidewalkers. The locals vexed at the deal signed by KMC with Sidewalkers to charge additional Rs 250 on the existing Rs 750 ticket for foreign tourists, which would force them to visit Dharahara when they come to the Durbar Square, are in protest since April. Sidewalker is the same company that was awarded the contract to develop the Dharahara as tourist place by the KMC in 2004.
The locals have been pressurizing the KMC to withdraw the agreement with private contractors to charge common fee to the tourists coming to visit either Basantapur or Dharahara.
“We can´t allow the government to hand over the world heritage site to private entrepreneurs,” said Shyam Manandhar, coordinator of the committee. "The KMC was not willing to cancel the agreement, which compelled us seek the anti-graft body´s intervention."
As per the KMC data, around 400 tourists visit the world heritage site per day, whereas the number reaches 800 during the peak season.
The series of meeting held between the locals of Basantapur and the KMC officials on resolving the issue ended inconclusively.
The contractor have defended the agreement saying that they have enough evidence to prove they had consulted the local people and also received consent of Nepal Tourism Board, Department of Archaeology and the UNDP before going ahead with the plan. News Source: Myrepublica.com
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