Local youth say that the parking fee was raised on the instructions of the mayor of Kirtipur Municipality.
What you should know
It has been found that parking fees were being illegally collected in the name of the Kirtipur Samaj from spectators who had come to watch the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur.
Although free parking has been arranged for NPL on TU land, public places and around the road, the society has been collecting fees at the rate of Rs 100 per motorcycle and Rs 150 per car since Monday. The youths have been deployed at the parking lot with receipts written ‘Kirtipur Bikas Samaj Kirtipur-11 Kathmandu’. ‘The collected amount will be spent on the repair and reconstruction of public structures damaged in the protests on Bhadra 23 and 24. However, the responsibility for the safety of the vehicles will lie with the vehicle owners themselves,’ the receipt reads.
It has been reported that the locals have collected the parking fee with verbal consent from the Vice Chancellor and Registrar. If it is collected without permission and in an unauthorized manner, we will take action: Pawan Bhattarai, Kathmandu Police Spokesperson The youths deployed there said that they collected the parking fee on the instructions of the Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality. Mayor Krishnaman Dangol admitted that there was consultation even though he did not give instructions to charge the fee. ‘Local youth have said that they will collect the parking fee and rebuild the ward office building that was burnt during the protest.’ I had asked them to register the organization with the revenue office and the municipality. I am outside and do not know what happened,’ he said. Mayor Dangol said that he was not aware of whether the fee was registered or not even though he was asked to collect the fee according to the policy and rules.
Spectators have criticized the fact that a fee was charged for parking motorcycles, cars and other vehicles on the university’s land. Professors, employees and students of Tribhuvan University have expressed dissatisfaction.
There has been no discussion with the organizer Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) and the municipality regarding the collection of parking fee: Deepak Aryal, Tribhuvan University Vice Chancellor Kathmandu Police Spokesperson Pawan Kumar Bhattarai said that although he is aware of the parking issue, no complaints or grievances have been received. ‘We have received information that the locals have collected parking fees after verbal agreement with the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. If it has been collected illegally without permission, we will take action,’ said Bhattarai. Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Aryal said that he was not aware of the parking fee. ‘There has been no discussion with the organizer Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) and the municipality regarding the collection of parking fees,’ he said.
Last year too, Tribhuvan University Central Campus SWU and Ayurveda Campus Kirtipur SWU had collected parking fees from spectators who came to watch the NPL. However, after criticism, the collection of fees was postponed. In 2059, the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) has been using the cricket ground by signing an agreement with Tribhuvan University. The agreement is valid until mid-April 2083. Even though CAN has rented the ground, the government has also been helping in the construction of infrastructure and other works. CAN has been paying 900,000 rupees annually to TU, including 600,000 rupees for land rent, 200,000 rupees for scholarships, and 100,000 rupees for TU sports. In addition, TU Student Welfare and Central Campus Self-Government Union have reached an agreement with CAN to receive 250,000 rupees in donations.
