KATHMANDU, May 26: The Road Division, Kathmandu, has expressed serious concern over the controversial move of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to dispose of truckloads of dust and garbage in front of the main entrance of its office located at Min Bhavan on Saturday.
The office issued a statement on Saturday evening describing the action as a violent and chaotic move by the Kathmandu metropolis. The office said that the move to dispose of the garbage in such a way has obstructed the entry and exit of people in the office.
“The behavior of the largest and responsible local government of the country mocks the rule of law and this kind of behavior in a violent and chaotic manner will never enhance the dignity of the metropolis,” the Road Division, Kathmandu, said in the statement.
Waling Municipality: Making the best out of waste
Pramod Khatiwada, the information officer of the road division office, said that Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah and the head of the Road Division Office, Kathmandu, discussed various issues of road improvement in the city. Khatiwada mentioned that the discussions were mainly focused on moving forward in a cooperative manner in line with the existing rules and regulations.
Previously, the metropolis had requested the Road Division for permission to cut roads according to the regulations, and all such permits had been granted, according to their statement.
The statement further clarifies, “On Saturday at around 12 o'clock, the KMC was engaged in reducing the width of the road by cutting it without permission in the New Road area. The Road Division stated that the metropolis should not cut and narrow the road without permission. Such behavior is a mockery of the rule of law.”
If errors within the working area of the Kathmandu Road Division are pointed out and necessary suggestions are given, the Division takes them positively and implements them, he said. However, raising issues unrelated to the division's jurisdiction and engaging in anarchic behavior will not be tolerated in the future, and the Road Division will be compelled to counter such actions, he added.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) on Saturday poured a truckload of dust in front of the Department of Roads and Road Division, Kathmandu, stating that the people of Kathmandu have been suffering from dust due to the delayed completion of the expansion of the second section (Kalanki-Basundhara) under the ring road expansion for the past 15 years.
Stating that due to the weakness of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kathmandu Metropolis had to face scolding from the general public, Mayor Balen warned the Ministry to proceed with the work as soon as possible.
He said through social media, "It doesn't look good if only the general public has to endure this dust. As long as the construction work does not proceed, The KMC will send you a truckload of dust every day as a gift. Please accept it as love."
In response to these actions, the Road Division, Kathmandu issued a statement raising concern.
