KATHMANDU, April 27: Minister for Youth and Sports Sasmit Pokharel has said that the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground will not be demolished.
Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting, Minister Pokharel—who also serves as the government spokesperson—clarified that the government has no intention of vacating or clearing the ground.
He said the confusion arose due to the expiry of the lease agreement. “I held a meeting with the Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University. There is no such intention to clear the ground. Since the lease agreement has expired, it needs to be renewed. A new lease will be arranged,” he said.
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Pokharel added that the ground would not be vacated given the significant state investment in the facility.
At a time when the government has intensified efforts to help Tribhuvan University (TU) reclaim its land and immovable assets, it has also clarified its position regarding the TU International Cricket Ground. Discussions in various quarters have suggested that the government may follow a similar approach to that used in clearing encroached squatter settlements if any issues of occupation are found in the cricket ground area.
In a public notice, TU stated that land and properties provided by the Government of Nepal and various donors for academic development must be cleared and formally returned within 35 days from the date of first publication, April 6. A study report has identified that more than 18 organisations have encroached on over 2,000 ropanis of TU-owned land.
The TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur is a flagship government project, with an overall investment of around Rs 10 billion. In the current fiscal year alone, the government has allocated Rs 420 million for its second-phase development.
