Damak View Tower opens for public

By Our Correspondent,Damak, July 19: Damak Business Complex (View Tower), the tallest structure in the country, has been opened to the public since Thursday. 

Situated in Damak Municipality-3, Jhapa, the complex has been made accessible to public for the first time through the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction’s Intensive Urban and Building Construction Project. However, apart from the completed structure, no other facilities or services have yet been added. Visitors are required to pay an entry fee of Rs. 100 to access the site.

The 100-metre-high tower comprises 18 floors, with 72 metres of reinforced concrete structure and 28 metres of metal frame. 

It now surpasses the height of the Dharahara tower in Kathmandu. Although originally envisioned as a multipurpose commercial hub with shops, seminar halls, banks, financial institutions, exhibition spaces, restaurants, and lodging, none of these services are currently available.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the tower on  July 11, 2019 during his previous tenure and inaugurated the tower in December last year. In his recent visit to his hometown, PM Oli remarked that referring to the complex as a mere 'View Tower' was a mischaracterisation. 

Locals and domestic tourists had long expressed disappointment that the structure had been inaccessible, even a year after its completion. Ward Chair Nabin Baral expressed delight over the official opening of the nation’s tallest complex, calling it a source of pride for the community.

The complex includes a ground-floor parking area with capacity for 40 four-wheelers and 200 two-wheelers. Built at a cost of Rs. 1.56 billion, the tower’s usage and future operation have remained uncertain, even after its construction was completed on five bighas of land provided free of charge by locals to Damak Municipality.

Land dispute surfaces over project site

Amid discussions to open the business complex to the public, a land-related dispute has come to light. Panchakanya Housing Company, which was involved in the project, claimed it had temporarily provided 1 bigaha and 5 kaththas of land on the understanding that the municipality would later arrange equivalent land through local contributions. The company now alleges it has not received the promised compensation, sparking controversy.

Ward Chair Nabin Baral clarified that the municipality had not committed to providing land directly but that the locals themselves had pledged to manage equivalent land in exchange. 

He stated that community members had collectively signed an agreement to provide land, and that Panchakanya had already received 19 kaththas from local sources in the past as part of a land exchange initiative.

Rupak Dahal, Director of Panchakanya Housing, said there was a land-pooling plan around the View Tower and based on this, a land exchange agreement had been reached. Initially, the company had made 3 bighas available but later arranged 5 bigahas at the request of Prime Minister Oli. 

He added that the locals had agreed to provide the remaining land once the land-pooling project was implemented. However, as the project has not moved forward, the company has not received the promised  land.

Dahal clarified that they have not demanded land from the municipality, but rather have asked stakeholders to honour the local agreement. Former Mayor of Damak, Romnath Oli, confirmed that the local donors had agreed to provide the land in exchange, and some locals are still willing to do so. He said the current dispute stems from delays in implementing the land development process.