KMC’s bulldozers demolish scrap warehouse, workers left stranded & hungry
Six months ago, the metropolitan office had issued a notice for the removal of the warehouse.
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) deployed bulldozers to demolish a scrap warehouse in Anamnagar on Friday afternoon.
The operation was carried out with the support of several police officers.
Six months ago, the metropolitan office had issued a notice for the removal of the warehouse.
Aware of the impending eviction, the warehouse operators had already relocated most of their materials, leaving only a few items to be moved.
Approximately 20 to 25 workers were employed at the site, among them Kuldeep Raya from Rautahat.
Kuldeep, with his white hair, a worn-out gray jacket, and an orange muffler wrapped around his neck, had been collecting scrap metal, bottles, and paper from the Kathmandu Valley for years.
As usual, Kuldeep set off early in the morning on his bicycle in search of scrap materials. His bags were scarcely filled, suggesting a less fruitful haul for the day.
Around 1 PM, Kuldeep returned to the warehouse for lunch, where dal and rice had already been prepared.
But before he could eat, the bulldozers arrived and began tearing down the warehouse, crushing his food, belongings, and shelter.
While Kuldeep’s fellow workers protested and pleaded with the officials, media personnel captured the chaos through their cameras.
Standing silently amidst the wreckage was Kuldeep Raya, his bicycle beside him, a picture of quiet despair.
“Even though they had notified us earlier, they didn’t let us eat the food that was ready,” Kuldeep lamented. “Everything was inside – meals, my clothes.”
Kuldeep revealed that they had planned to move their operations to a warehouse in Inatole. When asked if the demolition was difficult to endure, he replied with a heavy voice: “Of course, it’s hard. We can’t rebuild it exactly the same. But what can we do?”
