Lamjung local levels warn action against illegal structures

By Nabin Raj Kuinkel,Lamjung, May 22: Local governments in Lamjung have begun issuing warnings to remove structures built by encroaching public and government land.

Besishahar Municipality, Sundarbazar Municipality and Rainas Municipality have separately issued public notices urging people to clear illegal structures. The municipalities have warned that if the structures are not removed voluntarily, the local governments will demolish them.

Besishahar Municipality has directed people to remove within 35 days any houses, sheds or other structures built by encroaching on roads, irrigation canals, ponds, cremation grounds, grazing land and other public or government property.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, acting chief administrative officer Manoj Singh Bohara warned that if the encroachments are not removed within the deadline, the municipality will use bulldozers to demolish the structures in accordance with the law. The cost of demolition will also be recovered from the concerned individuals or organisations.

The municipality has also urged residents to submit complaints with evidence if they know about encroachment on public land, assuring that the identity of informants will remain confidential.

Ramesh Gharti, chief administrative officer of Sundarbazar Municipality, said the municipality has launched a campaign to collect suggestions and complaints related to the protection of public land, including unregistered land, grazing areas, canals, rivers, schools and religious sites.

In a notice issued on Monday, the municipality asked people to submit complaints and suggestions within 15 days through written applications, email or online platforms.

The municipality said it has also started collecting records to strengthen efforts to identify and protect public land.

Sundarbazar Municipality has additionally launched a building documentation campaign. It has asked owners of houses constructed before mid-April 2026 without official approval or built differently from approved designs to complete the registration process within 30 days.

Rainas Municipality has also warned against unauthorised structures built on public land. It said structures not removed within the given deadline would be demolished under the law and the costs recovered from encroachers.

The municipality has also tightened measures against road encroachment, directing people not to block roads by placing construction materials, shop goods or other objects on main and branch roads. It warned that materials would be confiscated and action taken against violators.

Local governments in Lamjung have recently intensified campaigns focusing on protecting public property, managing unplanned settlements and controlling road encroachment.

Hariram Nagila, chief administrative officer of Madhya Nepal Municipality, said a similar notice regarding illegal structures on public land would also be issued there.

Marsyangdi Rural Municipality had earlier formed a committee and launched a campaign to identify and remove houses and other structures built on encroached public land.

Although local representatives accelerated the effort, implementation remained limited as similar programmes had not been carried out elsewhere at the time.

Statistics showed that land encroachment and illegal settlement construction are widespread in Lamjung, with hundreds of structures -- including some linked to elected representatives -- reportedly built on encroached land.

Kwholasothar Rural Municipality, Dordi Rural Municipality and Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality have also informally instructed people to remove structures built on public land.