The news that the government of Nepal has started leasing historical and important structures like Dharahara, International Convention Center, Damak View Tower to the private sector has raised deep questions about the governance system of the country.
This decision not only exposes the inability of the government to protect historical assets, but also shows that its main objective is to evade the responsibility of the state by putting the national assets in the hands of the private sector.
Leasing a structure of historical importance like the Dharahara to the private sector is not only an indication of incompetence, it is the height of political gamesmanship and indifference of the government towards the historical heritage. It is an irony that even though a huge budget was spent in the name of reconstruction of the Dharahara destroyed by the earthquake, it could not be revived under the government's patronage. The failure of the government to make it financially self-sufficient and leaning towards privatization is a failure of leadership. We should not forget the history of loss to the state when assets like Nepal Trust and Kindergarten were handed over to businessmen in the name of lease. Such instances result in privatization where the state only loses its assets, undermining the national interest. By handing over structures to businessmen in the name of privatisation, the government is running away from its responsibilities.
On the other hand, this episode has also exposed the policy deviation of the government. This decision, made without any coordination between the federal government, the state government and the local level, has raised questions about the government's legitimacy. The question arises as to how visionary is the government's logic of making the country financially strong by renting out national assets. It is not wrong for the government to seek the help of the private sector for the maintenance and operation of important structures. However, this requires a clear policy and a long-term vision. It seems that the government is still turning a blind eye to the fact that such decisions made in the past will affect the country in the long run. What this incident shows is that the current government sees historical property as a personal interest rather than a national heritage. A historical structure like Dharahara is not an ordinary property. It is the pride, identity and history of Nepal. The protection of such structures is the responsibility of the government, not left to businessmen.
The government should immediately cancel this decision and make such a policy, which can ensure the long-term protection and utilization of national assets. Otherwise, national wealth will be lost in the name of privatization and the country's self-respect will also be destroyed.
- Santosh Simkhada , Tokyo, Japan
Government funds should be spent on essential things for the people like roads, electricity, drinking water, education, health. But the government spends billions to build big palaces and view towers, it is totally wrong. What is the view tower built for? If it was to be rented, it would have been done if it had been handed over to private companies to build them. It would have been possible to open a hospital with better services in the village with the money to build the view tower. It would have been if they had invested in drinking water. What do the ministers who have to run all day to get a gallon of water, buy water from government funds? Kathmandu is not only a country, Nepal is Nepal from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west.
It is surprising to hear that the view tower, which was built by spending national funds, is now being rented out. The policy of building a view tower and renting it out from the taxes paid by the Nepalis was not appropriate. You have to pay a high price to climb Dharahara. We will build a tower with our money and we have to pay to see that tower, what a surprise! What is the government's intention? If all the assets in the name of the nation are to be handed over to private individuals, what will be considered as the assets of the nation? What is the purpose of a view tower in a country surrounded by mountains like Nepal? Foreigners come here to see the beauty, not the view tower. The government has no plan on what can be done to save the natural beauty. The government is planning to create a view tower and a park by massaging the biological diversity of the hills. Invest in government, education, health, drinking water, not view tower.
– Purushottam Ghimire , Jorpati, Kathmandu
