DHANGADI, JANUARY 25

Division Forest Office, Kailali, has started removing physical structures constructed on the encroached land of Basant Forest area in Kailari Rural Municipality, Kailali.

An excavator was used to demolish and remove the structures constructed on the encroached land today.

Locals, however, have started protest against the demolition resulting in tension. Kailali Division Forest Office Chief Ram Chandra Kandel said that three houses were demolished, but the work was halted following locals’ resistance.

Kandel warned that the structures would be demolished forcefully. Locals, who have built the structures on encroached land, had padlocked the office of ward No 7 protesting against the forest office’s decision.

Around 300 locals had also tried to padlock the office of Kailari Rural Municipality in Hasuliya, as well. But, the local administration stopped them from locking the office.

Chhatakpur Basanta’s Bhalmansa Ramdin Chaudhary said that he was a flood victim, and he should be given a chance to live in the forest area.

Kailari Rural Municipality Chair Lajuram Chaudhary said that flood victims were living in the encroached land. “We have started the process of solving the problem as flood victims are living in the forest area,” he said, adding, “A discussion is under way with people’s representatives, Division Forest Office and flood victims.”