The KMC had announced that it will transform the waste land into a park well before 18th Saarc summit last year. Even the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development had allocated Rs 10 million for the project. However, all the metropolis could do before the summit was construct a fence with corrugated iron sheets from all sides of the unused area spread over 51 ropanis of land. The fence, too, has been removed now.

KMC officials said they have also provided over Rs 100 million in compensation to the owners of 21 ropanis of the land. “We could not reach a deal with the owners of 8 ropanis of land and some locals are demanding compensation for the remaining 22 ropanis of land, which is public property,” said Badri Khadka, the KMC’s Public Private Partnership Unit chief.

The government had acquired the land in 1976 promising to compensate the owners. The process to provide the compensation, however, started only in 2005 but could not be completed owing disputes over the price of land. As a result, the land remained unused and became a practice ground for driving institutes, playground for children and dumping site for locals. In the summer season, however, it is covered with bushes.

According to KMC Spokesperson Santa Ram Pokhrel, as the metropolis failed to reach a deal with land owners on compensation, it has handed over the responsibility of settling the dispute to the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO). He said the KMC has already provided over Rs 40 million, to be distributed among the land owners, to the DAO. “We will start constructing the park, once the dispute is resolved,” he said.

Khadka, meanwhile, said though the KMC paid Rs 5.12 million per ropani (16 annas) to land owners in the past, those who are yet to receive compensation are saying that they should be paid as per the current market price.

Khadka said the current price should be as determined by the government. The landowners, however, complained that the KMC is not willing to pay them the market price, which is around Rs 4 million per anna in the area.

Abinash Parajuli, a local resident, said the more the government takes time, the more the land costs. “It will be wise for the government to negotiate with land owners soon,” he said.