KATHMANDU, Dec 23: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah, known for criticizing the central government on even the most trivial issues, has once again gained attention. He formed an investigation committee after acknowledging that the Chief Administrative Officer made a mistake. Shah accused Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragai of approving the house design for the construction of a view tower at the Old Bus Park in Kathmandu without completing the necessary legal procedures. Jaleshwar Swachhanda BKOI Builders Pvt Ltd is constructing the view tower.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City formed an investigation committee against Chief Administrative Officer Guragai for approving the house design of Kathmandu Tower at the Old Bus Park without completing the necessary procedures. Guragai assumed the position on September 23, 2024. However, before completing three months in office, serious allegations of financial irregularities were raised against him. It appears that Mayor Balen had already approved the house design before Guragai's arrival. A year ago, the mayor imposed a fine of Rs 0.5 million and granted approval. According to the approval letter, the decision reached Mayor Balen on December 13, 2023, and after he gave approval on December 18, 2023, the concerned company paid the fine on December 20, 2023.
The mayor himself imposed a fine of Rs 0.5 million, and the construction company appears to have proceeded with the house design approval process. "In the official house design approval system of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the house design approval document for the Kathmandu View Tower construction, which was on the desk of the department head and had not been approved, shows that Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragai approved the house design without completing the process through the official system," said Kathmandu Metropolitan City's spokesperson, Nabin Manandhar. "We will conduct further investigation, and we will recommend legal action against anyone acting against the rules." This suggests that Chief Administrative Officer Guragai approved the house design for the Kathmandu View Tower, bypassing the official process in the city's system, likely in collusion with the contractor company, Jaleshwar Swachhanda BKOI Builders. However, the KMC appears to be raising the issue now, despite the mayor approving the house design a year ago and collecting Rs 23 million in revenue for the 19-story view tower.
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Jaleshwar Swachhanda BKOI Builders Pvt Ltd submitted a revised house design for approval, showing that the mayor imposed a fine and granted approval. According to the KMC's spokesperson, Nabin Manandhar, the KMC had no knowledge of this matter. KMC sources revealed that on January 20, 2024, the then Chief Administrative Officer wrote a letter to the construction company, directing them to pay the fine. The mayor was also informed about the letter. It appears the fine was paid accordingly. However, Manandhar stated that the KMC did not approve the house design for the view tower.
In a press conference on Sunday, spokesperson Nabin Manandhar issued a press release recommending action by the concerned authorities. The release accused Chief Administrative Officer Guragai of approving the house design for the building construction without completing the process through the official system. However, it appears that Mayor Balen Shah approved the house map during the tenure of the then Administrative Officer, Basanta Adhikari, when the issue was raised. Documents obtained by the public show that Mayor Balen imposed a fine and granted approval for the 19-story house design at that time.
The then Chief Administrative Officer presented the revised house design to the mayor. "The house design approval process only moved forward after Mayor Balen imposed a fine of Rs 0.5 million and granted approval," said a KMC employee. According to the employee, the Urban Development Department's head, Archana Shrestha Shakya, signed a letter that determined the fine and established the revenue of Rs 23 million. Accordingly, the concerned company paid the revenue of Rs 23.228 million.
A dispute has also arisen within the municipality over this matter. In response, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol called for an impartial investigation. "After an impartial investigation, we must punish the guilty, and there should be no doubt about that," she said. "If someone has conspired, we must investigate that as well. We must thoroughly and impartially investigate the involvement of everyone responsible."
She emphasized the need to determine whether one person was involved or if others were also responsible, and stressed that they should also face punishment. "If we suspect that this is organized corruption, we must investigate and take action accordingly," Deputy Mayor Dangol said. "Once we receive the explanation from the Chief Administrative Officer, we must immediately relieve him of his duties, and conduct an impartial investigation to identify any other involvement. If this is found to be organized corruption, we must take action against it as well."
