Dozer operated in encroached area of Koshi Hospital following minister’s directive

Kathmandu. The bulldozer was operated on commercial structures constructed by encroaching on land owned by Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar this morning.

As many as 32 commercial shutters were demolished within an hour by using three dozers after the seven-day ultimatum issued by the ministry and the hospital administration expired.

According to Hospital’s Public Relations Officer Nawaraj Luitel, 26 shutters were demolished including 26 rented out by Devkota Library, Nepal Red Cross Society, Nepal Tuberculosis Relief Society and Ganesh Mandir Committee.

“These structures have been removed as per the instructions of the ministry. Now this area will be made safe by constructing a compound wall,” Luitel said.

The hospital authorities had issued a public notice to remove the structures within seven days. A large number of security personnel were deployed to prevent any obstruction.

A team of security personnel including Assistant Chief District Officer Saroj Koirala, District Police Office Morang Chief SP Kabit Katwal and other security personnel were deployed at the incident site.

SP Katawal said that the structures constructed by various organizations for commercial purpose have been removed by encroaching upon the hospital’s land. According to him, the action was taken to use the land owned by the hospital for the purpose of the hospital.

Nepal Red Cross Society, Nepal Tuberculosis Relief Society, Ganesh Temple Committee and Devkota Library have been leasing out the hospital to pharmacies, clinics and other businesses for years. The hospital had long been taking initiatives to remove encroached structures for the implementation of its master plan.

On July 21, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and Health Minister Nisha Mehta had inspected the hospital and directed the authorities to remove the encroached structures.

According to the hospital administration, only the shutters rented for commercial purposes have been demolished. However, the main structures of Nepal Tuberculosis Relief Society, Blood Bank, Devkota Library and Ganesh Temple have been kept as it is, for the time being.