Kathmandu's mayor Keshab Sthapit comes across as a bold and visionary dreamer in your profile of him ('My city', #169). But he should also pay attention to saving the Valley's open spaces and its agricultural land. His new urban plan should incorporate the basis of the Valley's heritage and civilisation. New settlements should use minimum prime farming land by going highrise. Kathmandu needs proper management and relocation of its settlements, especially those which came after 1985. Kathmandu can be a modern cosmopolitan city, as the mayor says, but we shouldn't make that happen at the expense of our past glory.

Basanta Kumar Gautam,
Kasugai, Japan

. There is no doubt that Kathmandu has lost its charm due to unplanned urbanisation, population growth, overcrowding, traffic, dust, pollution. Mayor Sthapit seems confident he can bring the city back to its past pristine glory. This is not possible without the help and the full co-operation from the government. I believe it is the duty of all residents of Kathmandu to lend him a helping hand in achieving the goal. I hope the promises he has made in your article will not be like the empty rhetoric of today's politicians.

Dr Eli Pradhan,
KMC