BIRATNAGAR: Thirty-two commercial structures built by encroaching on land owned by Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar have been demolished as part of the hospital administration’s effort to reclaim its property.
The structures, including several rented shops operated through Ganesh Temple, Nepal Tuberculosis Prevention Association, Nepal Red Cross Society and Devkota Library, were removed using three bulldozers on Monday morning.
The demolition began at 6 am and was completed within an hour, according to Koshi Hospital Public Relations Officer Navaraj Luintel.
Hospital administration had issued a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the structures, following which business operators began clearing their shops from Saturday.
A large number of security personnel were deployed at the site anticipating possible resistance. Morang Assistant Chief District Officer Saroj Koirala, Morang Police Chief Superintendent of Police Kabit Katwal and other security officials monitored the demolition.
For years, various organizations including Nepal Red Cross Society, Nepal Tuberculosis Prevention Association, Ganesh Temple Committee and Devkota Library had constructed permanent structures on hospital land and rented them out to pharmacies and clinics.
The income generated from those rented spaces had been collected by the respective organizations rather than the hospital, according to the hospital administration.
Koshi Hospital had been attempting to remove the structures for a long time to implement its master plan.
Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Chandrabhala Jha said the demolished area will now be secured with a boundary wall and managed according to the hospital’s development plan.
Although commercial shops were removed through bulldozers, the main structures of the Nepal Tuberculosis Prevention Association, blood bank and Ganesh Temple have been left intact for the time being, the hospital administration said.
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