Temple's land encroached in Dang

Tulsipur, May 28: Buildings stand tall to the east of Tulsi Boarding Chowk in Tulsipur Bazar, Dang District. However, a four-story store stands on seven khattas of land of the temple under gutthi, which was encroached by the homeowners. 

Shiddha Ratnanath Temple, located at Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City -5, Tulsipur, has been situated on three khatta of land. The total area of the temple under the gutthi is 10 khatta of land, however, seven khatta of land have been encroached by locals. "Guthi" refers to a traditional land trust system.

Tej Nath Yogi, a patron of the temple, said, "Big houses have been built in the land of the temple, but we are not able to remove them. We are frustrated because no initiative has been taken for the retrieval of encroached land. The temple was located near the present Tulsi Boarding Chowk; later, it was moved. That area is now encroached, and around 15-20 houses have been built there."

He said that it will be easier if the houses built on the temple's land give rent or even give one shutter each. Initiatives have been made for that, and knock on the door of the concerned authorities.  

The government needs to provide support to bring back the encroached land of the temple, as it is public land. 

Houses were built on that land during the market expansion. Now, large businesses are operating in these houses.