Kathmandu: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has formed a committee to probe into the issue given to Batas Group to run a restaurant in the premises of Narayanhiti Durbar Museum. The ministry has formed a five-member committee under the coordination of joint secretary Hoprasad Luintel.

The ministry has instructed the committee to prepare a report with opinions / suggestions within three days.

The members of the committee are Teknarayan Poudel, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, Suryamani Gautam, Purushottam Khatiwada and Branch Officer Tanka Bahadur Negi. The decision of the ministerial level on Thursday is to form a committee.

Instead of preserving the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum, which was ruled by the Shah dynasty kings for 122 years, the government has leased the land and building for commercial purposes. Minister for Tourism Prem Ale had ordered to stop the construction work after the construction of the museum was completed.

The three companies (Batas Associates, BPS Leasing and Management and Hotel Anand) competing to run the Royal Garden Restaurant inside the museum belonged to the Batas Group. All three groups is belongs to Aanad Batas.