Khula Manch has always embodied an open air theatre for public gatherings in the heart of downtown Kathmandu. Over time, whatever political changes the country has witnessed, it started by a large number of people amassing at this open space and then mobilising from there. Even in 2006, when the People’s Movement II started with reclaim democracy in the country, it was Khula Manch that provided the citizens and leaders alike that space where one could speak, amass and be a part of the change.

Given the historic importance the place holds, it was utterly heart-breaking to know that we have lost Khula Manch to land mafias, wherein structures have been built illegally. It also indicates how rotten our system is. But following public outrage and protests from locals and various communities against the encroachment of the ground meant for political meetings, the metropolitan office on Saturday demolished all the structures set up illegally in its northern section. A number of illegal one-room structures cropped up in the area, built by Manoj Kumar Bhetwal, the owner of Jaleshwor Swachhanda Builders—the company tasked with constructing a view-tower in the old bus park.

Khula Manch, or ‘open theatre’, once spanned 48 ropanis (24,406 square metres), one of the city’s largest public spaces. Now, half of Khula Manch has been turned into a bus park while the remaining half is being used to store construction materials for the nearby Durbar High School and Bir Hospital. Even before it became an ad-hoc storage area, the Metropolitan Traffic Division was already using it as a parking lot to control traffic jams in New Road, Mahaboudha, Ason, Bhotahiti and Ratnapark areas.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya accused his deputy, Hari Prabha Khadgi, of deferring action against the traders who allegedly encroached on Khula Manch. Meanwhile, Khadgi says that she was never given the responsibility to any actions regarding Khula Manch in the first place. The mayor and deputy mayor can indulge in a blame-game, but it is utterly shameful to know something like this has been happening right under their noses, and that the authorities remained helpless.

Read: After public outcry, authorities demolish illegal structures

The Khula Manch incident tells us what happens when the government decides to be passive. Corruption grows, people increasingly show disregard for the rule of law and start doing whatever they feel like in order to gain some profit. Recent cases, such as the wide-body aircraft procurement, gold smuggling, Baluwatar land deal show a pattern: A select few are doing whatever they can to make that extra money while our institutions are becoming weaker than ever. And in all this mess, it is the country and its common people who will have to bear the brunt of the situation. The government must immediately bring to book the perpetrators who have built illegal structures in Khula Manch. The ‘Open Theatre’ will lose its essence if it is not open anymore.