Previous police office in capital’s heart standing as eyesore

Kathmandu, Mar. 29: It has been almost nine years since the devastating earthquake rocked Nepal on April 25, 2015. Over the years, many of the damaged houses and monuments have stood erect and restored to their former glory while several others are undergoing reconstruction. 

Reconstruction and restoration works are moving at an encouraging pace at the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square. However, the rickety building of the Kathmandu District Police’s previous office is standing a few metres west of Durbar Square while a building stands in support logs in front of Gaddi Baithak.  

Both of them stand as eyesores for the tourists as well as locals. 

After the earthquake, the Kathmandu District Police Range of Hanumandhoka shifted to Teku, abandoning the damaged building. However, the old building is neither pulled down nor rebuilt for nine years.     

The Department of Archaeology (DoA) had recommended demolishing the abandoned building of the Nepal Police located within the World Heritage Site. 

Hanumandhoka Palace Museum Development Committee (HPMDC) has already been suggested to demolish the building stating that the old cracked building could collapse at any time. 

Sandeep Khanal, Chief Officer of the HPMDC, after inspecting the site had suggested demolishing the building as soon as possible.  

Khanal further said, “We have requested the DoA to demolish the risky structure by sending a letter including the inspection report on January 9 urging it to manage the Nepal Police’s former office complex located within the Hanumandhoka Durbar Protected Monument area.”

Following this, the Department of Archeology sent a letter to the District Police Range on February 11.  

Moreover, the Heritage Conservation Mega Campaign also submitted a request letter to the DoA demanding that the building be demolished. 

Yadav Lal Kayastha, a heritage activist, said, “We have proposed to demolish the building from the public level and make it heritage-friendly and to set up an office of the Tourism Police after building a heritage-friendly structure at the same place.” 

The four-storey building covers an area of 2.5 ropanis of land. 

He further said that they urged the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Home Ministry to demolish the building. 

It had already briefed all details about the risky condition of the former District Police Office to former Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and former Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati. “They had positively responded to the issues at that time. But, now new persons are appointed in their positions and we have to work from the zero level with the new ministers,” he said. 

“Our concern is only to bring a police office at the same place after building heritage-friendly artistic structure because a police office is required at the Hanumandhoka Durbar area for safeguarding the monuments,” Kayastha said.       He further said that the building should be demolished by local people to increase knowledge about the importance of heritage among the people, to generate awareness and instill the feeling of ownership.” 

The dilapidated building has already been inspected by Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, Inspector General of Nepal Police a few months ago. Kayastha told The Rising Nepal that Kunwar was positive about demolishing it at that time but now he was not showing interest in the issue.