Nepal Protests: Key Highways Defaced, Blocked Due To Fires, Arson — Who Is Responsible For Repairs?
The week-long protests, led primarily by Gen Z, intensified after the government banned 26 social media platforms.
The streets of Kathmandu are unrecognisable. Smoke curls from overturned vehicles, and fires flicker along roads that were once arteries of daily life in Nepal’s capital. Public frustration with corruption, government mismanagement and political nepotism has spilled into the open, turning cities into arenas of chaos. The week-long protests, led primarily by Gen Z, intensified after the government banned 26 social media platforms.
Police crackdown killed at least 30 people and left over 1,000 injured.
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The unrest reached a peak on September 9, when demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Federal Parliament in Kathmandu. Private residences of ministers and cabinet members were also set ablaze.
Succumbing to public pressure, the government lifted the social media ban, and KP Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister.
Infrastructural Toll
The economic and infrastructural toll has been severe.
The Prithvi Highway, connecting Kathmandu to Pokhara, faced multiple blockages in areas like Simle and Hetauda, with demonstrators setting fires and halting traffic.
In Kathmandu, the Ring Road suffered extensive damage from arson and debris, disrupting daily commuting and public transportation.
The Mahendra Highway, part of the East-West corridor, also experienced blockages, while at the India-Nepal border in Panitanki, over a thousand trucks were stranded during a three-day closure, severely affecting trade. The border was closed for three days due to the unrest. While it has since reopened, the situation remains volatile.
The protests have also disrupted cultural and religious exchanges. The traditional influx of Nepali pilgrims to the Puri Jagannath Temple in India’s Odisha has declined sharply due to safety concerns and trip cancellations.
Holding Protesters Accountable For Public Property Damage
While India has clear legal mechanisms to recover fines from individuals or groups responsible for damaging public property, Nepal’s framework is less defined. The Constitution of India under Article 51A(i) imposes a fundamental duty on citizens to safeguard public property and abjure violence.
A 2009 Supreme Court ruling held political parties liable to compensate for protest-related damages. The 1984 National Act allows authorities to recover costs from responsible parties, and states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have laws enabling fines for property destruction during demonstrations.
Nepal has shown early signs of following a similar principle.
In March, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City fined former King Gyanendra Shah NPR 793,000 (almost Rs 5 lakh) for damages caused during pro-monarchy protests.
Who Is Responsible For Highway Repairs In Nepal?
In Nepal, the responsibility for road maintenance and repairs lies with several key agencies:
Department Of Roads (DoR): As the primary agency, DoR handles the planning, construction, and maintenance of national highways and strategic roads.
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT): MoPIT oversees the policies and administrative aspects of road infrastructure.
Nepalese Army: In cases of significant damage or challenging terrains, the Nepalese Army is mobilised for large-scale road repairs and construction projects.
Typically, the government assigns specific projects to the Nepalese Army, especially when conventional methods are insufficient. Upon completion, these projects are handed over to the DoR for ongoing maintenance and integration into the national highway system.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is expected to be appointed as interim Prime Minister, pending formal announcements, Reuters reported.