The construction of a temporary park at Capital’s Tinkune has been halted due to landowners’ protest over compensation. 

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had started the construction of the park in April with an aim to complete it within three months. The metropolis had also formed a six-member working committee, comprising land owners for the purpose. “We took the initiative, meet the locals who agreed to let us make a temporary park. But they started obstructing the construction after the local level elections,” said former KMC chief executive Ishwor Raj Poudel.  

A little over 50 ropanis of land in Tinkune—on the way to the airport—has remained unused for the last two decades for various reasons and was being used to park trucks and buses. It also used to serve as a place for many to practise driving.

Landowners say they would allow Niranjan Parajuli, a member of the working committee, said the landowners would allow the construction works if they were compensated for the acquired land based on the market value.

According to the KMC, the landowners are now demanding Rs3.2 million per aana in compensation.

The compensation issue over the land has been going on for years. 

The government had acquired the land in 1976 with a promise to compensate the owners. The process to hand over compensation, however, started only in 2005, but by that time the price of land in the Capital had already rocketed, which led to disputes over the compensation amount. 

According to KMC officials, compensation issue is yet to be resolved after landowners demanded higher amount for around 12 ropanis land that borders the road from three sections. The officials said the land owners have already received the compensation for 21 ropanis of land. 

Metropolis’ newly elected Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya told the Post that resolving disputes to construct the park  in Tinkune would be one of his priorities. 

“The metropolis alone can’t give compensation, we will put this issue to the government,” said Shakya.