Inaction escalates land encroachment

By Basudev Sharma

Khalanga, Apr. 24: Illegal construction on public land is rapidly increasing in Jajarkot, but authorities have failed to take decisive action.

Despite a government directive issued three years ago to remove structures built on public and government land, a lack of coordination among concerned agencies has left the local administration largely inactive.

Around 700 hectares of public and government land in the district have reportedly been encroached upon, with individuals building houses and sheds. Although the government had authorised the removal of such structures, the failure of local authorities to act has allowed encroachment to continue unchecked.

A few years ago, cases related to illegal construction on public land were filed at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Following an investigation, the anti-graft body urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to take action. 

The ministry, in turn, instructed the local administration to clear the encroached land. However, due to a lack of initiative from concerned bodies, the campaign has stalled.

The CIAA had repeatedly directed authorities to remove structures built on land belonging to public institutions, including the District Court and the Office of the Government Attorney. However, weak enforcement has prevented any meaningful progress.

Preparations were made three years ago to clear encroachments on government office land, but the effort was shelved due to negligence from concerned agencies. 

Although the local administration had considered taking action, the plan was halted after many residents were left homeless following the Jajarkot earthquake, making eviction difficult.

As a result, individuals occupying public land have continued to benefit, often at the expense of genuine victims.

Two years ago, after affected individuals approached the High Court in Surkhet, the government suspended its removal drive. Since then, encroachment has expanded across forest areas, public land and property owned by government offices and judicial bodies.

The situation has been further complicated by the Bheri Municipality collecting house tax from settlers without legal land ownership, which has, according to locals, encouraged encroachers.

Khambajang Shah of Bheri Municipality-4 said that despite directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, efforts to clear the land have not been implemented effectively. With little intervention from authorities, construction on encroached land continues to rise. In some places, houses have even been constructed over roadside drains, causing difficulties for pedestrians and disrupting public movement. Despite government rules prohibiting construction within 50 metres of highways, people have continued to build houses in restricted areas.

Public land in several wards of Bheri Municipality, including Ward Nos. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 12 in Khalanga, has come under increasing encroachment. The indifference of responsible agencies has further worsened the situation.