Land Revenue Office Reissues 8,000 New Records Following Arson Attack in Chitwan

Chitwan. Eight thousand new records (shresta) have been established for the Land Revenue Office in Bharatpur following the arson attacks that occurred during the demonstrations on Bhadra 23 and 24. Although exact figures are unavailable, it is estimated that around 200,000 records were held by the office.

Since all documents were destroyed by the arson, the Land Revenue Office is now establishing new land ownership certificates (jaggadhani pramanpatra). Accordingly, the Bharatpur Land Revenue Office had written to all seven local levels in the district to provide recommendations for the new ownership records.

Information Officer Tikaram Adhikari stated that eight thousand new records were established between the months of Kartik and Falgun. Most of the records at the Bharatpur Land Revenue Office were burned during the protests.

After the records were burned, new records must be established for any land-related transaction. Adhikari informed that due to the workload, new records were only established for those involved in land sales, transfers, and mortgages. The office plans to issue a notice and gradually establish records for others once the workload decreases.

He said, "The landowner must come in person to claim their land. Approximately 90 records are being established daily. The office building is not in a condition to work in; work is being carried out in temporary sheds. Storage problems have also emerged for the records that have been created. Ten types of documents are required to establish a new record." According to the officer, these include a copy of the citizenship certificate, a recommendation from the local level where the land is situated confirming possession and permanent address with a three-generation photo attached, the original deed (purja) held by the landowner, the original deed if acquired through a written document, a certified copy if obtained from a decision file, the plot register, fieldbook, and map must be submitted.

Similarly, the officer informed that the receipt for the current fiscal year's land revenue paid by the landowner, consent from the institution holding the land in mortgage if applicable, on-site inspection as needed, a 35-day public notice as required, and a consent letter from the Guthi Sansthan in the case of Guthi land are also required.

The office oversees some wards of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Kalika Municipality, and Ichhakamana Rural Municipality. The office here and the one in Khairahani were completely damaged during the agitation. New records must be established for all damaged locations.