By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 11: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has found serious lapses on part of Bhesh Narayan Dahal, executive director of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Memorial Management and Operation Development Board, with regard to the construction and operation of a restaurant inside the Narayanhiti Palace complex.

Dahal is found to have failed in his responsibility to protect the museum’s property and monitor and stop unauthorised activity, the investigation committee formed by the ministry concluded.
The committee was formed on January 6 to look into how the Batas Group received permission to build and operate an eatery on the premises of Narayanhiti Palace Museum. After studying the relevant documents, conducting field visits and talking to related officials, the committee, under MoCTCA Joint Secretary Hom Prasad Luitel, prepared a report which was made public on Monday.
The report found that Dahal also used the authority he did not have to finalise the agreement with Batas.

The report also finds the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Memorial Management and Operation Development Board at fault. The committee did not clearly demarcate the area Batas would be allowed to use when authorising it to build and operate the restaurant. This left the door open for it to capture more land than initially permitted. Batas was given permission to use only 6.34 Aanas of land but it was carrying out construction in around 14 Ropanis.

The Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Memorial Management and Operation Development Board (Formation) Order 2019 requires any new construction in the museum area to be approved by the MoCTCA and the museum committee. However, the construction was not approved by the Ministry.

The report also calls the amount at which Batas was allowed to lease the land, Rs. 220,440.26, “abnormal” as it does not take into account the market price. It also states that the three companies that applied for the tender may have colluded with each other.

Receiving the report, Minister Prem Bahadur Ale said that he was saddened by the failure of the museum management to monitor and protect the former residence of the monarch. He also said that Narayanhiti was just an example of the illegal exploitation of public property.

Informing that Batas had also carried out unauthorised construction in the underground bunker, Ale called such destruction of national monuments unacceptable and promised stern action against everyone responsible.

“I will do everything in my power to protect our heritage and monuments,” he said. “I will investigate into all irregularities and hope that the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority will also look into the matter.”

The Minister also informed that a probe committee had been formed to investigate Batas’ involvement in the running of the Dharmashala at Pashupati.