Controversial 7-Story Building Demolished on Rudramati Riverbank

Kathmandu. A bulldozer has been run over a controversial 7-story building located on the bank of Rudramati (Dhobikhola) river in Anam Nagar. The federal government, in coordination with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, ran the bulldozer on Sunday.  

The homeowner, Indra Chamling, stated that he had completed the construction of the house about 5 years ago. He claimed that the building's map was passed and that he had been regularly paying taxes and revenue.  

'I am surprised that a bulldozer was suddenly run over the house built by obtaining map approval from the ward office and completing all procedures,' Chamling said. He expressed his displeasure over the damage to his house and questioned the style of work of the administration.

While the building was being demolished, Chamling accepted Prime Minister Balen Shah as a 'patriotic leader'. While praising his work ethic, he complained that he was not given an opportunity to meet and discuss. He said, 'We tried a lot to meet him, but we were not successful. It would have been even better if a citizen's কথা (matter) had been heard.'

Chamling also made an interesting and satirical comment while expressing his pain. He said, 'I wish that all the squatters in Nepal also have such 7-story houses and they also get to live in palaces.' He connected the pain of the bulldozer running over the property he built with hard work to the issue of squatter management and criticized the policies of the government and the metropolis.

Previously, various media offices, spas, and restaurants were operating in the said building. The metropolis demolished the upper floors and parts that were against the map, stating that the riverbank's standards were violated and more structures were built than the approved map. Although homeowner Chamling spoke about the court's order and his evidence, the metropolis stated that the illegal structures were removed by completing the legal process.