| kechha |
Posted
on 27-Sep-02 06:01 PM
Swayambhu demolition turns into a ministerial farce
By Razen Manandhar
KATHMANDU, Sept 26
The plan of Minister Bal Bahadur K.C. to dismantle several illegal houses at Swayambhu was foiled today as another minister dramatically entered the scene and intervened, taking the squatters’ side.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. came to the Big Buddha Statue Park, constructed by Khangsar Buddhists from Manang district, this afternoon and convinced the Buddhists at 1:00 p.m. that the shed and other concrete buildings made at the park’s periphery must be dismantled to follow the master plan of the religious, cultural site.
"There is a master plan to promote this ancient site, also inscribed in the World Heritage List. To save the whole Kathmandu, each construction here must be in Nepali traditional style and no cement should be used," the minister said.
He strictly directed Department of Archaeology (DOA) officials to follow the guidelines of the master plan and added that the concerned authorities would make the people aware of the master plan.
But after the minister left, a group of half a dozen Manangi Buddhist protested when around 50 policemen, city policemen and other labourers tried to dismantle the small iron-made shed that is used as a teashop.
They neither let the security break their shed nor gave the key. And the security, too, did not use any force against their protest though half a dozen of them had guns in their hands. Rather, the Manangis forced DOA officials to talk to one or another minister on a mobile phone.
Then the Manangis invited Minister for Labour and Transportation Palten Gurung, over the mobile phone. The unconcerned minister Gurung arrived at the scene at 2:35 p.m. and he suddenly took the side of the squatters and said no dismantling would take place there.
The in-charge of World Heritage Section of Department of Archaeology Chandra Prasad Tripathi explained him that the master plan does not allow any cement construction and even the Big Buddha Statue was made illegally. "We had notified the concerned Managis several times about the plan to dismantle the sheds, made illegally on the public land that was allocated for greenery but they just ignored us and the minister came here to carry on the dismantling."
But Minister Gurung straightaway refused to listen to anything. "If you try to dismantle even a small shed here, it may take communal shape and anything can happen here. You must try to understand the community feeling," he told Tripathi, raising his finger.
Earlier, secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Riddi Pradhan said that the area should have been made a green jungle according to the master plan but the area has been encroached several times by people from different districts.
The government accepted a master plan on conservation of Swayambhu zone, ‘Swaymbhu 2000’, in 1989, which envisioned that the World Heritage monument would be free of encroachments by the year 2000. But, as the locals claim, the number of concrete Tibetan style gumbas are growing in number and huge concrete walls are being made against the spirit of the master plan.
The master plan suggests restriction of any new construction and ensures retaining of the traditional character of the hill with the art and architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. It also proposes a strict control of construction of any so-called Mane-Gumbas around the hill.
A member of Swayambhu Area Management Federation, Mahendra Buddhacharya said that most of the illegal constructions in the Swayambhu area are being built with support from political leaders and it is quite difficult to touch them, though DOA now and then pretends to dismantle them.
"We have been watching this drama for the last several years. We know, the ministers come here only to protect the squatters and there is nobody in the government to really save this holy site from further encroachments," he said.
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This is sad, I am a buddhist and would like to see Swayambhunath free of all those encroachers. Who the f-u-c-k is this minister to say this will bring communal feeling ? The place has been a sacred shrine for both hindus and buddhist for years and I think both agree that this area needs serious clean up.
We need a better (perhaps educated) person to represent us who will fight for just cause and not act like a dumb bheda. This just gives us bad reputation as someone who only knows how to use violence and threat and no brain. What do you say ?
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| boston_dude |
Posted
on 29-Sep-02 07:50 AM
Kecha ji,
Where did this article appear? In any credible news source or from some biased publication? Hey, Nepali government comes up with all kinds of plans... your so called "master plan" that often leaves the place in a great ruin than before the plan was implemented. It comes up with plans where the owners of land and property are not compensated adequately.... all in the name of historic preservation. Under such circumstances, it is not only right to fight the government, it might be our duty.
Just compare it to another project that the government undertook many years ago and did what they did in the name of preservation: Budhanilkantha in Narayanthan.
I admit I don't know the details of this case, but judging from what has taken place around Swoyambhu in the last 5 years, I would give people who have built what you call the illegal Big Buddha Statue the benefit of the doubt. Swoymabhu today is a far better place than just 5 years ago because of these constructions, because of this clean up. Just take a visit there and you will be amazed. This construction was done with the help of the community. Community members from Swoyambhu have pitched in whatever they can, be it money or time to make this happen. I myself am from Swoyambhu and every time I am in Nepal, I walk around Swoyambhu on the pavements made by these people almost daily. I turn the prayer wheels these people put up and am both amazed and glad that it is there.
The renovation of Swoyambhu is a good example of what can be achieved when a community is involved the proper way. I would support such a cause than the Nepali government any time.
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