Indira Rana Magar Questions Party Stance on Squatter Settlement Management

Kathmandu.  Ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Indira Rana Magar has questioned party president Rabi Lamichhane, stating that the party's formal stance on the management of squatter settlements should be clarified.  

On Friday, during a discussion held by President Lamichhane with RSP lawmakers representing Koshi Province at the RSP parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, she raised this question.  

Speaking to journalists after the discussion, lawmaker Rana Magar accused local levels of acting arbitrarily in the name of managing squatter settlements. She strongly objected to the fact that local levels in Jhapa were issuing notices to remove squatter settlements, citing instructions from the central government. She stated that it is inappropriate for local levels in districts like Jhapa to issue notices to vacate settlements, using the incident of the government removing squatters in Kathmandu as a basis.  

Clarifying the issues raised in the party meeting and contemporary irregularities, lawmaker Rana Magar said, 'We discussed provincial issues with the party president. What is our party's stance on this matter of squatter settlement management? I clearly stated that the party's stance needs to come out. Because currently, local governments are doing whatever they please in the name of squatter management. They are issuing notices to citizens who have land ownership certificates to vacate. They have paid taxes, haven't they? In some places, the tax collected is more than the value of the land. What is our party's formal stance on this issue? The law itself states that rivers must be protected. It is wrong to occupy rivers. Just because the government removed squatters in Kathmandu, local levels in Jhapa are issuing notices to vacate. This is not right.'  

RSP President Rabi Lamichhane held discussions with RSP lawmakers representing Koshi Province as per the party's internal schedule. Immediately after the dialogue with the representatives from Koshi Province, he is holding discussions with lawmakers from Madhesh Province on Madhesh-centric provincial issues and the party's future strategy.