Kathmandu, April 26
Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya has accused his deputy, Hari Prabha Khadgi, of deferring action against the traders who allegedly encroached Khulamanch, an open space at the centre of capital.
Recently, media reports have suggested that a contractor, assigned to operate a temporary bus pack in the space, built shops and collected rents from the traders illegally, without submitting any tax.
Mayor Shakya says he learned about the issue during the municipal council meeting three weeks ago, and directed deputy mayor to study the issue and prepare the report at the earliest.
The deputy mayor, however, did not take up the assignment, delaying the action, according to him.
The two officials represent Nepal Communist Party and Nepali Congress respectively. Their differences on other crucial issues including Ranipokhari reconstruction had also come out into the press earlier.
“The law has assigned a deputy mayor to monitor such issues. But, she forgot her responsibility and started politics as a Congress cadre. After media reported the issue, she said she did not get any letter,” Shakya told Onlinekhabar, “I am sad that she is targeting her politics against me.”
A determined official said he would now resort to the action and destroy the illegally built shops notwithstanding when the deputy mayor would submit the report.
