Kathmandu, April 7 -- Around two weeks ago when the Kathmandu Metropolitan City brought its five new Italian broomer machines Dulevo-6000 into operation, it announced five different routes where the machines would be deployed to clean the city roads. But the machines have reached only a few VVIP road sections so far, neglecting other areas of the Valley.

Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, Chief Executive Officer at the metropolis Yadav Prasad Koirala, and former Chief Executive of the metropolis Eshor Raj Paudel on March 27 jointly announced the operation of the machines, and vowed to work for a cleaner Kathmandu. But things on the ground are different from the claims made by the officials.

"We saw pictures and ...