Ward No.

16
Located in the north-west of metropolitan Kathmandu, Ward No. 16 is the largest among the 35
wards. Its population in 2001 was 45,450. The ward is spread over 437.4 hectares. If there are
old neighborhoods like Chhetrapati, Thamel and Paknajol in its southern part, the northern
section consists of scattered rural settlements. The Ring Road runs through the ward about its
center. The Raniban forest is situated in the north. One of Nepal's attractions, the celebrated 22
water spouts of Balaju, and the largest industrial estate in the country are both located in the
ward.

In addition to industry, there are Kathmandu's main tourist centers Thamel and Chhetrapati.
There are hotels and lodges of varying categories in the area. The ward's historic sites, in
particular the rest houses, pilgrim shelters, water fountains and sacred shrines at Sorhakhutte and
Paknajol, are in a pitiful condition because of neglect. At the same time, the tendency to
encroach upon these public properties is on the increase. A part of the Khusibun Housing
Project, an initiative to create planned settlements, lies within the ward.

The ward boundaries are formed by Ward Nos. 17 and 29 in the east, Ichangu VDC in the west,
the Mahadev Khola and Manamayju VDC in the north, and Ward No. 15 in the south. With
respect to local festivals, a fair is held at the 22 water spouts of Balaju each year on the full moon
day of April.

Population and number of households

Total number of households: 10789

Total population: 45450
Males: 24506
Females: 20944

*Census 2001

Building structure
Condition (%)
Building structure Percent (%)
Good Fair Poor
Clay mortar 20 15 40 45
Clay mortar and plaster 30 25 45 30
Cement mortar 40 40 45 15
RCC frame 10 85 10 5
Other
Roads
Condition (%)
Type Length (km.)
Good Fair Poor
Black-topped 15.12 30 40 30
Gravel 16.4 20 45 35
Dirt 14.16 15 30 55
Track/Trail 12.60 20 40 40
Brick-paved 1.3 60 30 10
Stone-paved

Sewerage
Condition (%)
Type Length (km.)
Good Fair Poor
Sewers 22.6 40 35 35

Solid waste

Solid waste generated daily: 50.87 cu. m.

Container: Yes  No 
Adequate  Inadequate 
Location of containers
 Roadside
 Open ground
 Other (specify)

Trash collection from homes

 Private sector
 NGO
 Community
 Ward Office

Number of homes provided with trash collection service:

Number of houses with various basic services
Service Percent (%)
Electricity 95
Drinking water 60
Telephone 50
Toilet 90

Areas without basic services

Percent
Service Area of ward
area
Electricity Squatter area, Balajutar, 5
Taodol, Akaltar
Telephone Different areas of the 50
ward
Drinking Balaju, Akaltar, Taodol, 40
water Squatter area, Khusibun,
land pooling area
Sewerage New settlements (Balaju, 30
Machhapokhari, Mhaypi,
Gushalphant, Taodol,
Balajutar)
Street Different areas of the 70
lighting ward
Toilet Taodol, different areas of 10
the ward

Educational institutions
Level of educational institution Government Private Total number
Pre-primary - 8 8
Primary - 4 4
Lower secondary 1 7 8
Secondary 4 16 20
10+2, Higher secondary - 2 2
Campus 1 3 4
Health institutions
No Patients Services
Type Name Type of sickness *
. visiting daily available §
Private 3 Dental Hospital 20 2, 7 5,9
hospital/ 24 Hours Nursing 30 1-7 1-9
nursing home Home, Chakrapath
Apollo Hospital - - -
Polyclinic 4 - - - -
Health 4 Urban health clinic, 15 General General
center/ city health center
dispensary Community health 10 " "
clinic
Kumari Free Health - " "
Clinic
Community center - " "

§ 1. Pathology
2. X-ray
3. Ultra-sound
4. ECG
5. Endoscopy
6. Emergency
7. Others

*1. Fever (malaria, encephalitis)

2. Stomach ailments
3. Chest ailments
4. Respiratory ailments
5. Eye, nose, ear, throat
6. Liver
7. Broken bones/wounds
8. Skin
9. Others

Institutional buildings
Name Address Ownership
Ward Office Paknajol Own
Balaju Standard Balaju "
Fish Farming Department Balaju, Machhapokhari "
Balaju Industrial District building Balaju "
Nepal Film Development Association Balaju -
Ward Police Office - -
Financial institutions
Name Address Type
Nepal Bank Ltd Balaju Banking
Banijya Bank " "
Mhaypi Saving Cooperative Ltd Mhaypi Cooperative
Classic Finance Banasthali Chowk Finance
Janata Finance Sorhakhutte "

Industry
Type Total number
Manufacturing 38
Energy 1
Agriculture and forest-based 16
Mining 2
Tourism 20
Services 16
Construction 18

Shops
Type Number
Foodstuffs 16
Spices 146
Cold store/provision store 26
Hardware 32
Sanitary 19
Textiles 27
Medicines 25
Utensils 11
Shoes 11
Stationery 24
Fancy goods 14
Electronics 21
Gold and silver 31
Meat 35
Fruits 17
Video cassette 18
Tea shop 33
Restaurant 42
Others 89
Total 659

Service and repair centers

Type Number
Computer/photocopy 23
ISD/STD 19
Tailoring 17
Laundry 14
Watch repair 12
Motorcycle repair 18
Car repair 12
Barber 32
Photo studio 19
Others 34
Total 200

Training centers
Type Number
Computer 13
Dance 1
Tailoring 4
Driving 1
Total 19

Entertainment
Type Number
Cinema hall 3
Leisure club 1
Pool house (snooker) 18
Video game parlor 1
Dance restaurant 2
Total 25
Post office
Type
Place District Sector Central

Post office (Balaju) √

Security
Type Number Locations
Police beat 2 Mhaypi, Banasthali
Ward Police Office 1 Sorhakhutte
Sector Police Office 1 Balaju

Parking space
Location Area (sq. m.) Usage
Sorhakhutte - Taxi, tempo, bus

Heritage sites

1. Balaju Baisdhara
2. Mhaypi temple
3. Siddhi Ganesh, Paknajol

Feastsfestivals celebrated
Name of feast/festival Month held
Baisdhara Mela Baishakh

Pilgrim shelters, rest houses, sacred sites, etc.

Condition
Type No.
Good Fair Poor
Stone water spout 31 2 1 6
Pilgrim shelter 27 - 1 26
Rest house 13 - 1 12
Pond/stream 1 - - 1
Others 1 - - 1
Public grounds
Type Number Usage
Open space 2 Waste dump
Sorhakhutte
Nanak Math
Park 1 Recreation
Balaju Garden

NGOs, INGOs, CBOs, clubs, etc.

Name Address Type Objectives
Friendship Club - Club Construction and social service
Nagarjun Club - " Social and sports
Kumari Club - " Health service
Yellow Star Youth Club Paknajol Sports and social
Sweta Ganesh Club Saun Pati "
Pahiko Club Pahiko "
Baisdhara Youth Club Bypass "

Squatters
Name of location Area (sq. m.) Number of
houses
Banks of the Bishnumati 25450 250
Behind Balaju Standard 2545 25

Social problems
Type Male Female Total
number
Suicide/murder 1 2 3
Theft/fraud 40 5 45
Accidental 4 - 4
death
Drug abuse 80 20 100
Prostitution 5 60 65

Note: Data of the last five years.

Five biggest problems

1. Sewerage
2. Roads
3. Drinking water
4. Preservation of cultural property
5. Telephone

Important projects completed

Project Amount (Rs.) Public participation (%)
Sewer line at Paknajol 3,00,000/- 50
Sewer line behind Tarun School 1,75,000/- 30

On-going projects
Estimated cost Contribution (%)
Name
(Rs.) Ward KMC Community
Sewer line at Balajutar 1,81,951/00 - 70 30
Black-topping 17,73,117/50 - 100
Construction of public 7,43,804/50 - 100
health clinic

Projects under consideration

Name Estimated cost (Rs.)
Brick paving at Bishnu Galli 1,25,685/-
Pitch road from Kaldhara to Khusibun 7,35,000/-
Sewer line from petrol pump to Sorhakhutte 5,71,000/-
Black-topping from Nagarjun Hall to Nagarjun stream 1,67,000/-