KATHMANDU, Aug. 8: The government has set aside Rs 110 million to repair and preserve four historically significant buildings associated with prominent political leaders BP Koirala, Madan Bhandari, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Gajendra Narayan Singh.
The allocation, made through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in the current fiscal year (FY) 2026/27, comes after the four buildings were damaged in fires during the Gen-Z protests on September 8 and 9 last year.
Ministry Spokesperson Jayanarayan Acharya said the funds were allocated because the buildings hold historical and tourism significance.
“Repairing and maintaining buildings considered important from tourism and historical perspectives is the government’s responsibility,” Acharya said. However, he noted that the allocated funds have yet to be implemented.
Reconstruction of buildings burnt in Gen-Z movement to be compl...
“If anyone refuses to accept the allocated budget, the amount will either be transferred to another budget heading or remain unspent,” he said.
Of the total allocation, Rs 20 million has been earmarked for the repair and maintenance of BP Koirala’s birthplace, Koirala Niwas, at Koshi Hospital Chowk in Biratnagar Metropolitan City-7, Morang. Another Rs 20 million has been allocated for the construction and maintenance of the Madan Bhandari Memorial Building in Ratuwamai Municipality-10, Morang.
Similarly, Rs 20 million has been allocated for the repair and maintenance of the Gajendra Narayan Singh Memorial Building in Rajbiraj, Saptari, while Rs 50 million has been set aside for the construction and maintenance of the Krishna Prasad Bhattarai Memorial Building in Badegaun, Lalitpur.
The four buildings are closely linked to Nepal’s political and social history.
The latest allocation, however, has drawn criticism from within the Nepali Congress. Party leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has urged the government to return the Rs 20 million allocated for the repair and preservation of Koirala Niwas.
In a letter to the secretary of the Tourism Ministry on August 5, Koirala said he could not ethically accept the allocation and urged the government to redirect the money to other pressing needs.
He argued that the state’s limited resources should be used for the welfare of citizens at a time when the country is facing financial constraints and other challenges.
Koirala said his father, Krishna Prasad Koirala, built the house around a century ago and that it later became known as Koirala Niwas. The historic residence was set on fire during the Gen-Z protests on September 9 last year.
Recalling BP Koirala’s lifelong struggle to ensure food, shelter and clothing for Nepalis, Shekhar said the government should focus on addressing such basic needs, which he described as the “true tribute” to BP Koirala and justice for Koirala Niwas.
The allocation also comes against the backdrop of a significant shift from the previous FY. In FY 2025/26, the then Ministry of Urban Development had allocated hundreds of millions of rupees for the repair and maintenance of residences and memorial buildings named after senior political leaders at various locations.
A ministry secretary said no such funds have been allocated in the current FY by either ministry.
