By Our Reporter
Hundreds of children, elderly, activists, leaders and journalists made a human chain in Tundikhel under the ‘Occupy Tundikhel’, a civil society-led campaign in a bid to exert pressure on the government to vacate Khula Manch, a part of Tundikhel, and spread awareness about the importance of open spaces in urban areas.
Hundreds of people gathered around the Khula Manch, which had provided refuge to thousands of people during the 2015-earthquakes.
Located at the heart of Kathmandu, Khula Manch area once used to be a major venue for holding all kinds of political movements. However, after 2015-earthquakes the area was leased out to private vendors.
Khula Manch or the open theatre, is not open to general public anymore. More than two-thirds of the area has been occupied as storage area by various development projects like Dharahara. It was converted into bus park after the government in March 2015 handed over a contract to build a view tower at the Old Bus Park site.
Khula Manch is a part of Tundikhel, which had spread from Dashrath Stadium in the south to Rani Pokhari in the north before 1950s.
‘Occupy Tundikhel’ organisers have demanded that the government free the occupied Tundhikhel, including the NA’s pavilion and half of the NA headquarters area. Alok Siddhi Tuladhar, heritage activist and one of the organisers, said historical documents prove that the larger area of Tundikhel was occupied by the NA and some of it for commercial purpose.
The event was attended by former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, lawmaker Bhimsen Das Pradhan, former minister Hisila Yami, former minister Gagan Thapa and Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu metropolis Hari Prabha Khadgi, among other activists, artists and members of civil society.
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