'Should we end Tihar quickly?': Mayor Balen's sharp retort to Ward Chairman after he hurried building construction

Kathmandu. A heated argument erupted between a Ward Chairman and the Mayor regarding the proposal to lease land for hospital construction during the 43rd Executive Committee meeting of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City today, Friday afternoon.

When the committee coordinator presented the proposal to lease a piece of Scout's land to build the Metropolitan Hospital, Ward Chairman Hiralal Tandukar of Kathmandu Ward Number 11 rejected the proposal.

Ward Chairman Tandukar insisted that since the rent would have to be paid from the citizens' taxes, the Metropolitan City should focus on constructing its own building. He questioned, "Should we build a hospital without building our own house?"

In response to the Ward Chairman's question, Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) stated that the construction of the Metropolitan building would begin immediately after Tihar.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Mayor's answer, Tandukar made a harsh comment, saying, "It's always just assurance, but no work gets done."

Mayor Shah then asked him, "Do you want the building to start after Tihar or not?"

In response, Tandukar insisted, "It should happen quickly."

Regarding the Ward Chairman's haste, Mayor Shah replied sarcastically: "Should I end Tihar quickly? How can I finish the 10-day Tihar today? Alright, I will ask for Tihar to be finished quickly."

The discussion, which began over the proposal to lease land to build a hospital, turned into a verbal duel between Mayor Shah and Ward Chairman Tandukar.