December 14, 2001
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu is currently undergoing a multi-million rupee facelift ahead of the delayed 11th summit of seven SAARC nations being held in the capital from January 4 to 6. Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Agriculture Minister Mahesh Acharya have delivered Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s invitations to leaders of Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to attend the summit that was originally to he held in Kathmandu in 1999; Acharya delivered the last letter to Bhutanese Prime Minister Lynpo Khandu Wangchuk in Thimpu Thursday.
Eleventh hour experts that Nepalis are, the efforts to beautify the city before the summit should be completed. The concrete railings around Tundikhel are getting a fresh coat of green paint. The narrow stretch of road from Nachghar to King Mahendra’s statue in front of Narayanhiti Royal Palace is being broadened by acquiring government land of the Tri Chandra Campus and a court; but writs have been filed at the Supreme Court to stop acquisition of private land at Maitighar and Teen Kune between the airport and the city to build parks.
The main roads of the city are rehabilitated day and night to ensure a smooth and swift drive for visitors through Kathmandu’s streets; the potholes scarring the roads should no longer be there in another three weeks. But all this is creating huge traffic jams especially during peak office hours.
“This temporary inconvenience is all right. At least we will have a cleaner city with better roads after the summit. I only hope that such summits are held every year,” said taxi driver Ram Shrestha. That is, of course, only a wish. Annual summits have not been held on schedule because nations of South Asia continue to quarrel and squabble.
Some are thinking whether the summit will again be postponed after Thursday’s bloody terrorist attack on parliament in India killing innocent people. “The event is tragic. But it should not affect the summit,” said Acting Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya. Hope Acharya is right.