Ministers in the interim government of Nepal are facing significant challenges related to accommodation and security following the Gen-Z protests, which saw the magnificent ministers' quarters in Bhaisepati burnt down on September 9. The destruction, which also included vehicles and parts of Singha Durbar, the central administrative hub, has left several new ministers without proper facilities.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki is residing in the official residence at Balawutar, but other ministers are compelled to use their private homes, causing logistical and security headaches.
Madan Prasad Pariyar, who was appointed as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development on September 22, commutes from his private residence in Syuchatar, Kalanki, and hasn't yet received a government vehicle. According to his private secretary, Minister Pariyar will receive a government vehicle only after Dashain.
Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, who lives in Sanepa, faces acute security challenges. Though he requires special protection with over 20 security personnel, his small private residence is cramped. Half of his security team is housed in a relative's nearby home, and their meals are arranged at a local police post. A member of his secretariat noted the difficulty in maintaining security protocol and the need for a security post, which the Minister hasn't yet approved.
Ministers without homes in Kathmandu are facing the worst of the crisis. Mahabir Pun, Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, is currently staying in a makeshift arrangement in a room next to his office at the Kaiser Library, which he reluctantly admitted was a necessary measure to save costs after the quarters were destroyed.
Other ministers, including Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha (Lazimpat) and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel (Imadol, Lalitpur), are also struggling to manage security, hold meetings, and arrange for their staff within the confines of their private homes. Minister Kharel said he is facing difficulty due to the sudden formation of the government and the extensive destruction.
Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal is an exception, as he previously committed to forgoing government security and vehicles, commuting from his private home in Balkot, Bhaktapur. Similarly, Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Energy, Water Resources, Irrigation, and Urban Development Kulman Ghising (Chabahil) has already built a security post at his residence and is reportedly managing well.
Despite the obvious risks of long commutes, especially in light of the security concerns, the interim government is focused on cost-cutting due to the massive loss of public property during the Gen-Z protests. Security personnel, who are struggling to adjust to the confined private settings compared to the secure, open space of the former Bhaisepati quarters, have expressed concerns over the increased security challenge.
The interim government, formed after the ouster of the Oli administration on September 12 and mandated to hold elections on March 5, is operating under difficult circumstances, "managing as best as they can" amidst the crisis.
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