Rs 3 billion budget proposed for construction of parks and corridors after removal of squatters

Kathmandu. The government has decided to develop the evicted slums along the Bagmati and its tributaries as green parks.

The high-powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee is doing homework on what kind of structures to be built in the vacated areas.

The committee has proposed a total of Rs 3 billion in the budget for the coming fiscal year for the integrated development and improvement of the major river corridors of the Kathmandu Valley, including Bagmati, Bishnumati and Manohara.

Kathmandu. The government has decided to develop the evicted slums along the Bagmati and its tributaries as green parks.

Spokesperson and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development, Nawaraj Pyakurel, said that the Ministry of Urban Development is preparing the design and concept required for the construction of parks and green spaces in the vacant spaces of the squatters who have been removed from the river banks of Kathmandu Valley.

According to him, the High-Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilization is doing homework to construct structures in the vacant areas.

Spokesperson Pyakurel shared that the Bagmati Integrated Development Committee would take forward the works of constructing and beautifying the structures in the vacated areas. “The friends of the Bagmati civilization are preparing the design and concept of what kind of structures will be built in these areas,” he said, adding, “The Bagmati civilization has got the responsibility to work in that area.” ’

He said that the budget has been proposed in the current fiscal year for the construction of infrastructure in the vacant places on the banks of the river.

The government had launched a campaign to evict the squatters in the Kathmandu Valley from April 24. After 15 days, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order not to vacate the squatters. The settlements on the banks of the Bagmati and Manohara rivers had been removed.

Cleanup is over, infrastructure construction will begin now

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Likewise, a campaign has begun to make the Bagmati and Manohara river banks open and well-managed. The work of clearing the debris piled up in the evacuated areas has been completed. Now, works are being carried out to expand the park, greenery area and river flow area.

Project Director of the committee, Machakaji Maharjan, said that the project has been forwarded as per the plan of beautification and protection of environment by freeing the river bank from encroachment. According to the project, open parks will be constructed in the vacated areas without constructing any new big or permanent physical structures.

The committee has proposed a total of Rs 3 billion in the budget for the coming fiscal year for the integrated development and improvement of the major river corridors of the Kathmandu Valley, including Bagmati, Bishnumati and Manohara. The budget is currently in various stages of approval of the government’s annual budget.

Project Director Maharjan said construction of corridor roads, drainage management and river training would be given top priority in the areas where encroachments have been removed.

In some places, the risk of floods is high during the rainy season as the corridor road is incomplete and the river flow area is narrow. He said that the width of the river would be increased and drainage would be laid in necessary places to address this problem in the long term.

“We have successfully completed the first phase of dredging by removing the silt from the river,” Maharjan said, adding, “Now we are preparing to bring suitable soil from outside, layer and plant saplings of different species.” The project believes that this will help make the rivers in the Kathmandu Valley clean and environment-friendly.

3 billion budget proposal

The committee has proposed a total of Rs 3 billion in the budget for the coming fiscal year for the integrated development and improvement of the major river corridors of the Kathmandu Valley, including Bagmati, Bishnumati and Manohara. The budget is currently in various stages of approval of the government’s annual budget.

The project has called for constructive support from the local community and stakeholders in the committee’s campaign to restore the natural beauty and historical environment of the Kathmandu Valley by freeing the river bank from encroachment.

Maharjan said, “We have already proposed the budget for the coming year and it is in the process of discussion and approval.” After the budget is passed, we will complete the construction of various corridors from the construction of parks with the money coming from the budget.

We have demanded Rs 3 billion, but it remains to be seen how much of it will be approved in the end. We will not stop the work as soon as the budget is approved, we will start the work by setting priorities on the basis of the budget that comes. ’

According to Maharjan, the infrastructure works will pick up pace in the areas where the squatters have been evicted immediately after the budget is passed. The proposed budget will be used for multi-year projects, including paving of roads along the river, construction of river conservation walls and greenery.

2,608 Squatter Families Records and Preparations for Rehabilitation

The committee has also come up with a concrete plan for the proper management of the genuine squatters displaced from the river banks. Although the displaced people are currently being kept temporarily in various holding shelters, they will not be kept there permanently.

The committee has set a programme to identify the genuine landless squatters, distribute relief money to them and rehabilitate them in alternative places.

So far, a total of 2,608 squatter families have registered their records. More budget has been demanded from the government to provide relief to these registered families.

“As soon as we receive the budget, we will start the process of rehabilitating the registered and certified squatter families by distributing relief,” Maharjan said.

The project has called for constructive support from the local community and stakeholders in the committee’s campaign to restore the natural beauty and historical environment of the Kathmandu Valley by freeing the river bank from encroachment.