KATHMANDU: Birgunj Metropolitan City has started removing temporary houses and structures that were illegally constructed in the BP Park, located near the Ghantaghar Chok.
Despite two public notices being issued, asking for the removal of these structures, including temporary homes, vegetable and fruit markets, and food stalls, they were not cleared. As a result, the municipality began demolishing them with bulldozers starting Sunday.
According to Hari Bhusal, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police, around 40 temporary structures were removed after the owners delayed complying with the notices.
The municipality stated that there were over 250 temporary establishments in the park, including shops selling vegetables, fruits, clothes, and food items.
Bhusal further explained that the municipality had made arrangements to relocate the vegetable and fruit traders to the agricultural market in Ward 16 of Birgunj.
The majority of the shopkeepers, over 90 percent, are local residents of Birgunj, with a few Indian nationals also running businesses. Bhusal noted that the municipality plans to convert the cleared area into an attractive park.
Oke Bahadur Shahi, who has been running a meat shop in BP Park, expressed his frustration, stating that the municipality’s actions have disrupted their businesses.
Earlier, on December 11, the municipality issued a 15-day public notice directing the removal of vegetable and fruit markets from BP Park.
The deadline was set for December 25, but when the traders did not comply, a second public notice was issued on December 27, giving a seven-day grace period.
As the traders still failed to clear the space, the municipality decided to use an excavator on Sunday to remove the structures.
The municipality has plans to develop BP Park into an organized space, transforming it into a new attraction for tourists visiting Birgunj.
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