Chhaya Devi Complex Pvt. Ltd, a private Neapli company, has constructed mega sophisticated and well-facilitated shopping mall in Thamel, Kathmandu. In 2009, the company has unlawfully acquired the communal trust lands of Pradhan Newa Indigenous Peoples. The company has encroached the sacred pound 'called 'Kamal Pokhar' and its banks with wells and other sacred/ritual sites as result religious and cultural customs and traditions of Pradhan Newars based on the pond and its embankment lands have been devastated.

Pradhans had traditionally used the pond for their daily rituals from the ancient time. During the dictatorial Rana oligarchy, then Prime Minister Keshar Shumsher Rana forcefully annexed the pond in the compound of his palace – Keshar Mahal – built in 1895 while the Pradhan Newars were given limited access to the pond.

The peoples concerned are protesting the moves of the government and the company demanding to repeal of all transactions of the communal trust and respect the rights of Indigenous peoples to culture and collective lands. LAHURNIP is supporting the communities to strengthen their advocacy providing legal aid to the court process and submitting complaint to the international human rights mechanisms from 2014. The demands of the peoples concerned are yet to be addressed.

Media Coverage 

23 November 2020 : छाया कम्प्लेक्स विवाद : ‘मुद्दा पर्दापर्दै भवन ठडियो’  : https://ekantipur.com/national/2019/02/20/155062875836629683.html?fbclid=IwAR14rO2Hzb4remqQwKzix0xcX02gAlOQKXhOCRf0pu1u2g5COfDfcdX1QqA

23 November 2020 : पोखरी मासी बनाएको छायाँ देवी छायाँ देवी सेन्टर बनाएकाे विरूद्वमा शान्तिपूर्ण बिरोध : https://paharanepal.com/news/6253/?fbclid=IwAR0VVQDh9vr1vGuJt8YycjmWAuZ76cw_B-c3S00waYM-qjm2iJu3aHBSGnU

18 August 2020 : Chhaya Centre' into dispute after local protest : http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/29165

3 May 2020 : Campaign to restore archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel urges ILO and UN to protect rights infringed due to construction of Chhaya Center : https://cemsoj.wordpress.com/2020/05/03/campaign-to-restore-archaeological-kamal-pokhari-in-thamel-urges-ilo-and-un-to-protect-rights-infringed-due-to-construction-of-chhaya-center/

25 January 2019: गुठी जग्गामा छाया सेन्टर : http://himalayankangaroo.com/76426.html

26 December 2018 : Chhaya Centre formally inaugurated : https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/chhaya-centre-formally-inaugurated/

1 March 2019 : CHHAYA CENTER Under Assault : https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2019/03/01/chhaya-center-under-assault/

22 February 2019 : How Kamalpokhari land morphed into Chhaya Center : https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/how-kamalpokhari-land-morphed-into-chhaya-center/bru

17 February 2019 : 117-year battle to save Thamel’s Kamalpokhari : https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/117-year-battle-to-save-thamel-s-kamalpokhari/

20 February 2019 : Media attempt to discourage investors : https://www.peoplesreview.com.np/2019/02/20/media-attempt-to-discourage-investors/

26 December 2018 : Chhaya Centre formally inaugurated : https://www.bolchhanepal.com/chhaya-centre-formally-inaugurated/

7 February 2019  : Historical, cultural sites should be protected: Baidya : https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2015/02/07/historical-cultural-sites-should-be-protected-baidya