DIPAYAL: One hundred ninety families of Rikhada village in Doti’s Bagalekh VDC-6 and 7 have not got their land ownership certificates even though they have been using the

land for many generations now.

The families are worried about their future as their efforts to obtain the certificates through the Land Revenue Office and the District Court has turned futile. The families have been deprived of the ownership certificates due to an unsettled land conflict.

According to Land Survey Office, around1094 ropanis of land in Bagalekh-6 and1649 ropanis in Bagalekh-7 were yet to be registered.

Meanwhile, Wale Saud said that though the locals have been toiling in the lands for many generations, the Khadkas of Phulout have been claimed the lands.

When the locals filed a case against the Khadkas in 2022 BS, the court had given a decision that the land under the ownership of the Khadkas could be used by the locals. The enraged locals surveyed the land in 2044 but the Khadkas filed a case in the court against the survey.

Siddaraj Shrestha, head, District Land Revenue Office, said that he could do nothing due to the verdict of the court. Agreement of both the parties was necessary for a solution, he added.

Bhim Bahadur Khadka said, “We have no enmity with the Rikhada residents, we also need some land but they want to have it all.” However, the locals have been visiting various political parties and their leaders. But they lament that the leaders had never done anything substantial. Manuwa Sirmal said that former minister Lekhraj Bhatta had assured them of solving their problem but in vain.

Meanwhile, Bale Saud said, “We have no documents of our land and we fear that we may have to leave the area. Locals maintained that the village could be a business hub as tourists could enter into the Khaptad region. The locals feared that the land would not be easily handed over to them due to the prospect.