KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has come under fire after locals observed fresh cement being laid over an old pitch surface in an area that was previously earmarked for water-recharge-friendly redevelopment.
Months ago, KMC had launched a project to remove concrete from heritage zone roadways with the stated goal of constructing water-rechargeable infrastructure to allow underground water replenishment. The initiative was widely welcomed as a step toward environmentally sustainable urban planning.
However, new footage and photos shared today revealed that instead of removing the previous asphalt layers, workers were directly pouring cement over the existing surface, contradicting the city’s earlier commitment.
The apparent reversal triggered strong criticism from local residents and conservation advocates, who accused the city of greenwashing and failing to follow through on its environmental promises.
In response to the backlash, Kathmandu’s Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol visited the site for an on-ground inspection. Her visit followed growing concerns that the reconstruction work may be undermining the original intention of allowing rainwater to seep into the ground rather than run off paved surfaces.
Dangol has not yet issued an official statement, but the controversy has reignited debates over transparency, environmental policy, and execution gaps in KMC’s ongoing urban renewal projects.
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