KATHMANDU: The second meeting of the 17th Municipal Assembly of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is currently underway, with members raising concerns about persistent local issues.
During Wednesday’s session, Harka Khati, the ward member from Ward 16, highlighted ongoing problems in areas such as Machhapokhari and the Balaju Industrial Area.
Khati expressed frustration over the lack of action regarding street vendors blocking roads in Machhapokhari. “Vendors from outside the area have occupied the road to sell vegetables, making it difficult for essential services to operate. There was even a case where an ambulance got stuck, and the patient died en route,” he said.
He explained that Ward 16 had previously intervened by introducing a designated vending area and marking spaces, but the problem persists. Khati also criticized Mayor Balen Shah for not showing enough concern over the issue.
He proposed setting up a cold storage facility at Banchare Danda to help resolve the street vending problem at Machhapokhari, noting that he had previously raised this suggestion but received no response.
Khati also raised concerns about the Balaju Industrial Area, claiming it has turned into a place for selling goods brought in from outside rather than producing them locally. He warned of potential explosions due to unsafe gas storage, citing Nepal Gas products being filled on-site using imported gas.
Expressing his disappointment, Khati questioned the effectiveness of the assembly: “I have raised these concerns before, but there has been no implementation. Are we just here to talk, or will anything actually be done?”
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