Pokhara Bus Park Land Encroached Upon for Decades, Authorities Issue Eviction Notice

Pokhara. Land acquired in 2032 BS for the Pokhara Bus Park has been encroached upon by various individuals and organizations. At that time, 207 ropanis of land were acquired, but due to encroachments over time, it has now shrunk to about 50 ropanis.

The Pokhara Bus Park, which is a major agenda in every election, has not been constructed even after 50 years. Approximately 400 landless families have encroached upon the land here.

Besides them, some political parties and some associations and organizations have occupied the land. Government and public land worth billions, owned by the Pokhara Valley Development Committee, continues to be encroached upon by political parties, their sister organizations, business houses, and landless people.

Valuable land in front of the bus park and the transport management office at Prithvi Chowk, owned by the Pokhara Valley Development Committee, has been illegally occupied by nine associations and organizations. For years, these organizations have been operating offices and renting out shutters for commercial purposes by encroaching on government land.

The largest portion of land at Prithvi Chowk has been occupied by the All Nepal Trade Union Federation. This land, which was once a camp for the Young Communist League (YCL), a major sister organization of the then Maoist party, has not been returned yet.

In Pokhara-9, more than 2,472.13 square meters, or over 4 ropanis and 13 annas, of land in front of the transport office (plot no. 84) has been encroached upon, and an organization is operating its activities from a concrete building constructed there.

The Nepal Transport Independent Workers' Organization has built its own building occupying over 124 square meters, or more than 3 annas, of land within the bus park area. Commercial shutters have been constructed on the ground floor of the building and rented out. The Nepal Trade Union Federation (GEFONT) is occupying approximately 102.5 square meters, or about 3 annas, of land in the same area. Both organizations are sister organizations of the CPN-UML.

Meanwhile, the Community Learning Center and Community Police have also occupied 105 square meters of land in the name of security and education. The learning center operated by the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry is using 68.25 square meters of land.

The Himali Cultural Family has occupied about 89 square meters of land. This organization, active in arts and culture, has also seized land in the bus park area.

Sahara Club, a prestigious club in the sports sector, is occupying 98 square meters of land in the same area. A sports shop for private use has occupied 95 square meters of land in the main area of the bus park and is conducting business. Adjacent to it, a public toilet has been constructed on 83 square meters of land. Questions have also been raised about its income sources and management.

During the latest measurement by the Development Committee, all these structures were found to be on road land.

The Development Committee has issued a 35-day notice ordering the removal of all structures built without permission. Prior to this, the Pokhara Metropolitan City had also issued a notice for the removal of structures built on public, vacant, and unregistered land. The Development Committee issued its notice on the 8th.

"We request that the structures built by encroaching on the land owned by the committee be vacated within 35 days, otherwise action will be taken according to the law," the issued notice states.

If the structures are not vacated within the notice period, the committee itself will take action according to the law, said the committee chairman and Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya.

"Now the encroached structures will be removed. We have already studied the entire area. Now, under no circumstances will they be spared," he said. "The Metropolitan City has also issued a notice for the removal of structures."

The income generated from the encroached structures has also not been clearly disclosed.

The Pokhara Valley Development Committee is the oldest institution in Pokhara with the largest amount of immovable property. It owns a total of 995 ropanis of land throughout Pokhara. However, due to encroachment and disorganized distribution, the land is continuously shrinking.

The acquisition of land in 2032 BS for the city planning of Pokhara began through the initiative of the then Zonal Chief Shankarraj Pathak and planner Padam Bahadur Chhetri. The international airport, which has now been built, was also a concept from the same period. A comprehensive master plan was prepared in 2031 BS for the modern development of Pokhara.