Encroachment Removal in Bara Finds Only Two Genuine Squatters

Bara. During the process of removing encroachment in the 3 No. Pul area along the East-West Highway, only two households were found to be genuine squatters. The encroachment was removed by a joint team led by the Division Forest Office, Bara, local police administration, Parsa National Park, forest rangers, employees, and the Road Division Office, Hetauda.

The Forest Office stated that 35 households who had encroached upon the forest area of Banadevi Community Forest and Parsa National Park, beyond the 25-25 meter road area on both sides of the Mahendra Highway, have been removed.

According to Forest Officer Lalan Raut, preliminary information indicates that only two families among the 35 encroaching households do not have other residences. "All their belongings are being moved towards Hetauda," said Forest Officer Raut. "So far, no genuine squatters have been found." The Forest Office had informed those without other residences to notify the local level about two weeks prior to the encroachment removal.

Hotel businesses had been operating in this location since the Mahendra Highway came into operation, i.e., since 2035 BS. Most of the hotel operators here are permanent residents of Hetauda.

According to Division Forest Officer Sujit Kumar Jha, most of those living by encroaching on road, forest, and park areas have land elsewhere. "Many of the 35 households have houses in Hetauda and Pathlaiya. If anyone does not have land or property, please come forward, and we will write a letter to the local level," said Division Forest Officer Jha. "The Forest Act, 2076 BS, does not distinguish between the landless and squatters. Our law says to apprehend and take legal action against encroachers." Division Forest Officer Jha informed that the encroachment removal work, which began today under the leadership of the Forest Office, is being closely watched from all sides. He stated that genuine squatters would be assisted if they came forward with proof.

During the encroachment removal, locals had demanded 15 days' time to remove their belongings. However, the Road Division Office, Hetauda, and the Forest Office had issued a three-day notice in the first week of Baishakh, directing the removal of houses and structures built by encroaching on forest land unauthorizedly from Pathlaiya-Amlekhgunj-Chure Mai Mandir along the Mahendra Highway.

Locals who had ignored repeated notices were forcibly evicted today.

This is a border area of Bara and Makwanpur. Ward Chairman of Jitpur Simra Sub-Metropolitan City Ward No. 22, Shekhar Kaji Rumbar, stated that some households have requested land. "Some who do not have land or property elsewhere are coming to us requesting land," said Ward Chairman Rumbar.

The encroachment removal work, which started at 7 AM on Friday, continued until 6 PM.