Probe committee formed to investigate Narayanhiti restaurant lease saga

Kathmandu / Jan 6: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has formed a probe committee to carry out an investigation regarding the decision taken by the erstwhile government to grant permission to Batas Group to build illegal infrastructure including a restaurant inside the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

Joint-Secretary at the MoCTCA Hom Prasad Luintel is the coordinator of the committee where Under-Secretary at the Employees Administration Section Tek Narayan Poudel, Comptroller General at Financial Management Division Suryamani Gautam and Under-Secretary Purushottam Khatiwada are its members.

Similarly, section officer Tanka Bahadur Negi has been appointed as the member-secretary of the probe panel.

Minister Prem Bahadur Ale said that the probe committee has been entrusted with the responsibility to submit its report within three days after carrying out investigation regarding the restaurant being constructed in the premises of Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

Minister Ale had on Tuesday directed the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Memorial Management and Operation Development Board to immediately stop the ongoing construction work of the restaurant in the premises of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

Following the directives from Minister Ale, Narayanhiti Palace Committee has already directed the B Management Pvt Ltd to immediately stop the construction activities until further notice. The Committee had earlier made an agreement with Batas Company to run a restaurant in 10 ropanis of land belonging to the Museum.