Over 363 hectares of forest land encroached in Dadeldhura

By Puskar Bhandari,Dadeldhura, May 8: Encroachment of forest land is on the rise in Dadeldhura, where nearly 75 per cent of the district’s total area is covered by forests.

The mid-hill district lies along the Mahabharat range and includes Chure hills as well as river and stream basin areas. Around 55 kilometres of the Mahakali Highway, the only main road linking the seven hill districts of Sudurpashchim Province with Kailali, passes through Dadeldhura.

According to the Division Forest Office, encroachment has increased along forest areas and land adjoining the highway.

Although the highway has been expanded to a 50-metre right of way (25 metres on each side), permanent structures have been built by encroaching on both roadside and forest land.

Data from the District Administration Office show that Dadeldhura covers a total area of 153,800 hectares, of which about 115,000 hectares are forest. The Division Forest Office reports that 363.38 hectares of forest land across the district have been encroached upon.

Division Forest Officer Bhim Prasad Kadel said that this encroachment has occurred since the fiscal year 1998/99. So far, 46.32 hectares of encroached land have been cleared, with efforts to remove encroachment beginning in the fiscal year 2021/22.

Recently, a survey was conducted to record encroached areas along the district stretch from Gaira Bazaar to Anarkholi Bazaar. Kadel said the Forest Act clearly defines forest land, but does not recognise categories such as public or unregistered land separately. 

As such, land not falling under settlements is considered forest land, and registration of such land is not permitted. Land within the road right of way is excluded, while the rest is treated as forest land.

He added that although data collection has been completed for settlements along the Mahakali Highway, the exact demarcation of the road boundary is yet to be finalised.

Encroachment in the area began increasing after the road was opened around 1975 through Hagulte and Sahukharka in the Mahabharat range. Sahukharka, which once had only three huts, has now developed into a settlement with more than a dozen shops, hotels and around two dozen houses, according to local resident Narayan Deuba. Permanent houses are still being built along the highway.

The Mahabharat forest region covers around 53,000 hectares, but only 42,287 hectares currently remain forested, with the rest converted into settlements, according to a study by the Forest Department. It is estimated that nearly 18,000 hectares have been encroached upon over the past decade.

Encroachment has also increased in the fertile inner Tarai areas of the Chure region due to migration from the hills. 

According to Kadel, areas such as Parashuram Municipality and Aalital Rural Municipality, located in river basins of the Mahakali, Rangun and Pantura rivers, are suitable for crops, vegetables and fruits, and easy access to irrigation has contributed to land encroachment.

He said details of encroached land have been sent to the District Administration Office as per ministry directives. The Division Forest Office will begin further action once the administration initiates the process to remove encroachments.