Murals Created at Great Expense Are Deteriorating Amidst Disputes Over Their Preservation
Kathmandu Metropolitan City collaborated with the Lalit Kala Pragyā Pratishthan to create murals in public spaces during the fiscal year 2080/81 (2023/24). However, these murals have been damaged due to roadwork, sidewalk construction, and tar application, while responsibility for their preservation remains disputed between the Pratishthan and the metropolitan authorities. Murals, created at a cost of millions of rupees, are deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance.
As part of urban beautification efforts, the metropolitan city jointly created murals with Lalit Kala Pragyā Pratishthan in fiscal year 2080/81 at locations including walls along the right side of the Maitighar to Babermahal route, Exhibition Road, outside the international airport, the Social Welfare Council wall in Lainchaur, Sundhara area, Pashupati Kanya Campus, and Tripureshwor. Currently, many murals are peeling away. Dust accumulated from construction of roads, drains, and sidewalks has made the murals dirty, while chewing pan and betel quid residues on the walls have also contributed to their deterioration. In some places, walls have cracked, causing mural damage, and others have graffiti or scratches. The most extensive damage is visible on murals in the Sundhara area. Walls in front of the Nepal Telecom building have cracked and become unsightly, negatively impacting the area’s aesthetics.
The metropolitan city allocated 5 million rupees to the Lalit Kala Pragyā Pratishthan for creating murals at various public locations within its jurisdiction. The Pratishthan was tasked with contracting with artists and institutions, issuing work orders, evaluations, payments, and accountability. However, the Pratishthan now claims it has no responsibility for the preservation of the damaged murals. Surendra Gautam, the Pratishthan’s information officer, stated that the contract signed with the metropolitan city in Falgun 2080 (February/March 2024) did not include any clause on preservation. Conversely, Kathmandu Metropolitan City spokesman Naveen Manandhar insists that preservation responsibility lies with the Pratishthan, noting that murals should be maintained after creation. According to sources, the Pratishthan lacks funds to maintain the murals. Gautam mentioned that collaboration with the metropolitan city could be renewed to restore and maintain the damaged murals. Currently, spokesperson Manandhar confirmed that the metropolitan city has withdrawn plans for further mural projects.
DB Bhandari, an artist directly involved with the Sundhara murals, described the rapid deterioration as unusual. After a field visit, he concluded that weak walls were the main cause of damage. He explained, “Water appears to be seeping from the walls,” and noted, “The paint has not faded, but the walls have peeled off.” Bhandari expressed his dismay over the condition, stating that inadequate study of the mural sites led to this problem, whereas murals typically last much longer under normal circumstances. He added, “The metropolitan city provided funding, and the Pratishthan made the murals, but there was no effort to protect the murals by controlling water damage or repairing broken or damaged sections.”
Similarly, murals on the walls of Pashupati Kanya Campus suffered intentional defacement. Portraits depicting ethnic groups created by Sougat Tamang were vandalized with scratches on faces. Sougat reported that since he did not want the artwork left in vandalized condition, he repaired the murals at his own expense. He also shared that no action was taken by the metropolitan city against the vandals. Although the metropolitan city commissioned the mural, the repaired works by the artist can still be viewed today. Meanwhile, some mural artists accuse the Pratishthan of adopting improper methods, which contributed to the poor condition of the murals. They allege the use of ordinary paint on weak walls was a key factor in the damage. One artist said, “Despite knowing the Sundhara walls were weak, murals were created there. In such conditions, the walls deteriorate within a few years. Protective coatings could have been applied externally, but this was not done.”
