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Report on footpath management gathers dust
KATHMANDU, MAY 06 -
A full year has passed by since a report of a committee led by former Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit recommended the government on a possible solution to the problem created by street vendors. However, with the change in the government after the report was sumbitted, no initiative has been taken to implement the report.
The report has recommended the government allocate separate places for street vendors, make provision to allocate some rooms in super markets and shopping centres for street vendors having less capital and practice mobile shopping.
It has also advised the government to take action against vendors who encroach upon the footpath.
“Managng the footpath and (evicting street vendors) in Kathmandu has always been a tough job for the municipal police,” said Dhanapati Sapkota, the head of the Kathmandu municipal police.
“Sthapit’s report could be an appropriate tool when it comes to solving the problem,” he added.
He said it was unfortunate that the government remained indifferent when it came to implementing the report. “The municipality alone can do nothing until and unless we have the home ministry’s support,” Sapkota said. “We have time and again urged the government to take steps to address the problem, but to no avail,” he added. “The incumbent CPN-UML-led government has turned a blind eye to my report as it was formed by the former (Maoist-led) government,” Sthapit, the former mayor, said. “The (street vendor) problem is getting worse by the day. The government should take initiatives without delay,” he added.
Officials at the Home Ministry, responsible for implementing the report, however, refused to comment on why the report had been gathering dust.
“I am not aware of the report,” said Home Ministry Spokesperson Jaya Mukunda Khanal.
Posted on: 2010-05-07 08:43
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