E-Kantipur

JAJARKOT, OCT 26 -

Encroachment of public land and community forest areas is rife in Jajarkot district.

Thousands of huts have been built denuding the forests in areas including Khalanga, Jagatipur, Punma, Dhime, Sima, Karkigaun, Khagenkot, Panchkatiya, Phulchawali and Rimna.

A local said more than 500 huts have been erected in the district headquarters Khalanga alone. He added that forest land in the villages of Khalanga, including Thaplechaur, Shantichautara, Ranagaun, Thati and Theple is being encroached upon.

The Community Forest Users’ Group and local political parties have been accused of encouraging land encroachment. “People with political connections are encroaching upon forest land,” said human rights activist Khim Bahadur Shahi, adding that rampant deforestation and illegal extraction of stone has put Khalanga area at risk of landslide.

Acting Forest Officer Aajaj Ahamad Ansari said his office alone cannot stop the illegal act. He said cooperation from local people plays a crucial role in this matter.

Chief District Officer Sukdev Lamsal said it is difficult to control land encroachment as people are doing so under political protection.

People build huts in project land

CHITRANGA THAPA

KANCHANPUR, OCT 25

Land belonging to the Mahakali Irrigation Project in Kanchanpur district has been encroached upon and many huts have sprung up there in the name of freed Kamaiyas and landless people.

According to Bijal Prasad Yadav, a surveyor at the project, the land at the project’s subsidiary canal in Mahendranagar has been encroached upon and people are constructing huts on the stretch from Siddhanath Science Campus to Nimbudanda. “The huts are being constructed on the 30-feet wide stretch of land on either sides of the canal, which was supposed to be used to construct a road,” Yadav said.

He said though some households—among the 136 huts constructed on the stretch—vacated the area upon request, the rest are still occupying the land.  Technicians at the project said Regional Committee under the Water Consumers’ Association (WCA) was responsible for removing the huts as the management of the canal was handed over to the committee last year. “We have informed WCA about the matter,” said technician Mohan Telar.  Local people, however, said open areas along the canal would also be encroached upon if the authorities concerned do not do the needful.

Regional Committee Chairman Khageshwor Pandey said they have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the encroachers to vacate the area. “We will be compelled to resort to use force if the directive is ignored,” he said.

Posted on: 2011-10-26 08:26

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