Morang landowners struggle as railway project keeps land frozen for five years

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Feb. 6: In 2019 (2076), when the government decided to construct the East-West Electric Railway and imposed a freeze on land transactions (jagga rokka) for the project, 56-year-old Kamal Prasad Poudel of Kanepokhari-7, Aaitabare, Morang, was filled with joy.

Despite the decision to freeze the land transaction, he remained hopeful of receiving appropriate compensation soon and began planning to acquire another property elsewhere.

Landowners in Kanepokhari, Pathari Shanishchare, Urlabari, Belbari, and Sundarharaicha in Morang shared the same hope.

However, five years have passed since the land transaction was frozen. Four different governments have changed, yet none have allocated a budget for compensation or lifted the freeze on land transactions.

“I own two bighas of land, but I haven’t been able to use it in times of crisis. I still have to pay land tax, yet I can neither sell it nor use it as collateral for a loan,” said Poudel of Kanepokhari-7, Morang.

He possesses two plots of land, one measuring 15 katthas and another one bigha 15 katthas, out of which around 15 dhurs fall within the railway corridor.

Since both plots fall under the railway project, the Department of Railways instructed the Belbari Land Revenue Office to freeze land transactions. One of these plots was even mortgaged to a cooperative. 

Poudel is now demanding the release of his land, stating that if the railway is not going to be built, the freeze on land transactions should be lifted.

Residents who were once excited about a railway passing by their homes now find the project a burden.

Devraj Gurung owns six dhurs of land along the Kanepokhari-Rangeli road, where he has a small house. The railway blueprint passes directly through his home.

“When the railway issued the land acquisition notice, I was happy. I thought I would receive compensation and be able to arrange alternative housing nearby. But it has been five years, and we have neither received compensation nor been able to use the land for business or loans,” said Gurung.

His neighbour, Dataram Bhattarai, along with his wife and daughter-in-law, has also had their land transaction frozen for the railway project. He is now unable to use his only property.

“We thought of sending our grandson abroad for employment, but no one is willing to offer a loan. Neither private lenders nor financial institutions accept our land as collateral. The local authority doesn’t even collect land revenue from frozen land, so selling it isn’t an option. As a result, my family is left idle with no economic activity,” said Bhattarai.

In Kanepokhari-7, a total of 161 families have been affected by the project, while 14 families in Kanepokhari-5 and five in Kanepokhari-6.

The affected landowners are not against the railway project. In fact, they eagerly await its completion. However, they are frustrated that the land transaction has been frozen for five years, preventing them from engaging in any economic activities.

This issue is not limited to Kanepokhari alone. Landowners in 22 wards of Urlabari, Pathari Shanishchare, Belbari, and Sundarharaicha municipalities in Morang have been facing a similar problem.