Tansen begins works to put Palpa Durbar in World Heritage List

By Bindu Thapa,Tansen, Mar. 18: Tansen Municipality has decided to remove 57 huts and houses from the Palpa Durbar Square area to enlist the ancient palace in the World Heritage Site. The 9th executive meeting of the municipality decided to demolish the houses and huts built encroaching the Durbar Square area. 

Santosh Lal Shrestha, Mayor of Tansen Municipality, said that efforts had been underway to enlist the historical Palpa Durbar Square in the World Heritage Site.  The huts and houses standing on the right and left of the main gate and other houses built within the area of the palace will be removed as per the decision of an all-party meeting, he said.  

The Department of Archaeology (DoA) dispatched a letter to the municipality on January 24 asking the municipality to begin beautification works in the palace area. 

“I called a meeting of all parties to discuss the matters after receiving the letter from the DoA. The decision of removing the structures standing in the palace area has been taken after holding an all-party meeting. It is not my personal decision. So, it is hoped that there will not be any obstruction from any side to remove the structures,” said Shrestha. 

Palpa Durbar Square will be developed in its original style by removing the structures built around it, according to Yadav Singh Karki, spokesperson for the municipality. “All the structures inside and outside the durbar square will be remove for this task.” 

The buildings of the District Administration Office, District Police Office, Electricity Office, National Child Groups and the office of the National Investigation Department e will also be removed, he said. Hemanta Raj Shakya, ward chair of ward no. 4, said that works to develop Palpa as the main destination among the people would begin as per the decision of the municipality. 

According to the municipality, 12 huts and 13 structures of the Small and Cottage Industry, three huts of Red Cross Society of Palpa branch, Nepal Child Group and three huts of Karmachari Milan Kendra will also be removed. 

For the beautician of the palace, the huts will be removed in the first phase, maintenance works on the main gate will begin in the second phase, and the buildings of District Administration Office, District Police Office, Electricity Office, Child Club and National Investigation Department will be removed in the third phase, said Karki.