KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 23
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a circular to the chief district officers of 77 districts, instructing them to collect and send details about government-owned land. The ministry has also sent a letter to collect and send the details of government owned land, as well as to take action against those who wrongfully usurp government land.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a statement stating that "All District Administration Offices have been asked to coordinate with the concerned agencies to collect information and proceed with the next steps."
The ministry has also directed the DAOs to take action against individuals or institutions that illegally encroach on public land or use it for purposes other than those agreed upon.
"The purpose of the letter is to keep the land in its original condition; therefore, all district administration offices are instructed to collect the information, along with facts and information about it, and send it to the Ministry of Home Affairs," according to a statement released by the MoHA.
Government and public lands exist throughout the country, owned by the government and made available to public institutions for use with the government's approval. However, it has been reported that individuals have abused the agreement.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government has prioritised the protection of illegally encroached and occupied lands. It has also requested that anyone with information about such land contact the relevant district administration office.
"If land allotted for public, government, or specific purposes is registered, encroached upon, or occupied and used for purposes other than the stated purpose, it is well known that the government has given priority to bringing back the land and taking legal action against those who illegally encroach on or occupy the land in accordance with the prevailing laws," reads the statement.
The MoHA is said to have taken the action, especially after the Special Court convicted more than a dozen people in the Lalita Niwas Land embezzlement case.
Last Thursday, the Special Court convicted over 100 people, including former government secretaries, of illegally transferring government land in Baluwatar as personal assets to private individuals, while acquitting the political leaders who made the decisions.
On the other hand, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the concerned to vacate the government land in the Lalita Niwas area.
The KMC requested that individuals, businesses, and organisations vacate government land in the Lalita Niwas area of Ward-4 within seven days.
As per the provisions of Local Government Operation Act, 2017, Section 97(1), which addresses the protection of property at the local level, the KMC is accountable for protecting, managing, and upholding government, community, and public property under its purview.
The directive is in line with the Special Court's ruling, which, according to Metropolis assistant spokesperson Deepak Adhikari, recently made it unlawful for people, businesses, or organisations to occupy the area. This reinstates the government's ownership of the land.
If the edict was not followed, the local government threatened to demolish buildings in the area in compliance with current land management and protection laws.
