KATHMANDU, April 27: Kathmandu Metropolitan City demolished 52 illegal structures built at Khulla Manch at the heart of the Capital, on Saturday.

The move comes amid pressure from multiple quarters including local residents against the construction of those structures for business purposes.

The KMC demolished the structures including shutter rooms upon the direction of the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.

Earlier, a section of social activists had submitted a memorandum to KMC’s Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi demanding to dismantle the illegal structures constructed at Khulla Manch. They even warned to demolish those illegal structures themselves if the KMC turned deaf ears on their demands. 

Various public sector entities continued to occupy Khula Manch space, threatening the very existence of these historic grounds for public gatherings at the heart of the capital.  

KMC already took up half the open space when it shifted the old bus park there. The move was widely criticized and seen as an encroachment of the commons on the pretext of setting up a temporary facility.

Bir Hospital has constructed three prefab structures inside the public space with the purpose of running an emergency field hospital. According to officials from KMC, the field hospital is being constructed without permission from KMC, the body responsible for the protection of open spaces within the metropolitan area. 

 
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