Kathmandu: In Nepal, numerous tall view towers have been erected across the Terai plains and mountain tops in the name of development. During the tenure of the previous government led by KP Sharma Oli, there was a significant emphasis on constructing such view towers, with projects like the Damak View Tower being prominent examples. However, the construction of these towers has not necessarily translated into tangible benefits, leading to questions about their efficacy and financial viability.

Despite involvement from multiple levels of government, including federal, state, and local authorities, the commercial viability of projects like the Damak View Tower remains uncertain. The tower, which is claimed to be the tallest building in Nepal, has been completed at a cost exceeding two billion rupees. However, it remains unused, with no concrete plans for its commercial operation.

"You see such view towers being built during the NCP government," said an engineer from the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning. Another engineer of the Ministry of Urban Development claims that the commercial return of Damak View Tower, which has been constructed and is yet to be put into operation, is not guaranteed. "There is no guarantee of its commercial returns", said the engineer. Since there is no proper mechanism to spend the government's budget, lately it has been increasing the country's financial burden by blindly investing in unnecessary areas like the View Tower in a competitive manner. The engineer of the Ministry of Urban Development claims that Damak is also an example of this.

The construction of the Damak View Tower faced several challenges, including cost overruns and delays. Originally budgeted at around one billion rupees, the project's cost has now escalated to 1.7 billion rupees due to additional expenses such as fire safety measures. Despite these investments, there are doubts about the tower's potential returns, especially considering the lack of a clear business plan.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the necessity of such projects and their alignment with local needs and demands. The tower's location in Damak Municipality-3, Dhukur Pani, raises questions about its relevance to the local community and its potential to attract commercial activity. Additionally, there are suspicions about ulterior motives behind the project, including allegations of using the tower for surveillance purposes.

While there have been efforts to inaugurate the tower, including printing invitation cards for a ceremony, its inauguration has been postponed due to concerns about its utility and readiness. Despite completion, the tower remains unutilized, highlighting the challenges associated with such large-scale infrastructure projects.

In conclusion, the construction of view towers like the one in Damak raises important questions about the prioritization of resources and the need for comprehensive planning and feasibility studies. Moving forward, there is a need for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of such projects to ensure they align with the needs and interests of local communities.

Concerning Aspect

Another concerning aspect of the Damak View Tower project revolves around suspicions that KP Oli and the CPN-UML may have ulterior motives for its construction. There are allegations that they intend to leverage the involvement of a Chinese technical company in the project to install surveillance equipment. Specifically, there are concerns that this equipment could be used to monitor the activities and communications of leaders from opposing political parties, particularly those representing tribal identity groups.

The decision to proceed with the construction of the tower, despite its questionable commercial viability, has raised suspicions about the true intentions behind the project. It is suggested that the insistence on involving the Chinese company in the construction contract may be linked to plans for installing surveillance equipment.

These suspicions highlight broader concerns about privacy and the potential abuse of power for political purposes. If substantiated, such actions would raise serious ethical and legal questions about the use of public infrastructure for covert surveillance. As such, it underscores the need for transparent and accountable decision-making processes in all government projects.