KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Bhesh Narayan Dahal, executive director of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, has resigned from his position after he was dragged into the controversial restaurant construction deal of Batas Group. 

According to an official at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Dahal tendered his resignation to the ministry’s secretary Maheshwor Neupane on Tuesday. Earlier, the probe committee formed by the MoCTCA showed Dahal’s suspicious involvement allowing the business group to construct structures inside the historical place against the law.   

The MoCTCA had formed a five-member probe committee under the coordination of Joint-Secretary of the Ministry, Hom Prasad Luintel, in order to carry out an investigation into the permission given to Batas Group to run businesses including a restaurant on the premises of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum. 

The committee in the report mentioned that there was no clear demarcation of area and place to be used in the course of running canteen/cafeteria and encouraged to carry out construction activities encroaching upon additional areas. 

Executive Director of the Development Committee did not take any action even after constructing new structures by B Management Pvt Ltd against agreement, and additional new structures were constructed on 14 ropanis of land without taking permission from the Ministry and Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Memorial Management and Operation Development Board, reads the report. 

 
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