Koshi Hospital Issues Ultimatum for Encroached Land Eviction

Biratnagar. Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar has issued a notice giving a 15-day ultimatum to vacate the encroached land in its name.  

The hospital has given an ultimatum to various organizations and individuals to vacate the government land worth billions of rupees owned by the hospital.  

According to the field demarcation report of the Survey Office Morang, the hospital has requested to vacate the unauthorized use of plots number 11, 12, 15, 22, 23, and 26 owned by the hospital by various individuals and organizations. The hospital has warned that if the land is not vacated within the stipulated time, legal action will be initiated according to the prevailing laws.

This step has been taken on the basis of a special circular issued by the Internal Administration Branch of the Ministry of Health and Population on Jestha 30, 2083, for the security and protection of land and physical infrastructure of government hospitals across the country. As per the ministry's directive, hospitals are required to prepare a detailed report by confirming whether the boundaries of the land owned by them match the approved map.  

In case of encroachment, the ministry has set a policy to issue a written notice specifying a deadline, and if the notice is not complied with, to coordinate with the District Administration Office, local level, and security agencies to remove the encroachment and re-establish the hospital's possession, and to adopt protective measures such as compound walls to prevent future encroachment. It is in implementation of the same directive that Koshi Hospital has now issued a final warning notice.

Various prestigious organizations have occupied this land, which is extremely necessary for the expansion of the hospital's services. The Nepal Tuberculosis Eradication Association has occupied 6 kattha 8 dhur of the hospital's land and constructed a permanent building, and is earning more than 2 lakh rupees per month by renting out rooms in that building.  

Similarly, Ganesh Mandir Management is collecting more than 1 lakh 60 thousand rupees per month in rent from commercial shutters constructed on 2 kattha of land. The Nepal Red Cross Society has also occupied more than 2 kattha of land and is earning approximately 1 lakh 50 thousand rupees per month by renting out commercial banks and various shops, while Devkota Library has occupied 2 kattha 10 dhur of land and rented out rooms for commercial purposes.  

While these organizations are collecting lakhs of rupees per month from the hospital's land in this way, the hospital itself is unable to expand its services due to lack of infrastructure.

Koshi Hospital has been continuously trying to reclaim its valuable land since 2076 BS. However, the encroaching organizations have been forcing the hospital administration to back down by exerting their political and administrative influence.  

According to former member of the Hospital Development Committee, Mukesh Budhathoki, in 2080 BS, when final preparations were being made to vacate the hospital's land, the campaign was foiled by exerting great power and influence. Due to the encroachers threatening and pressuring the hospital administration, the process of reclaiming the land has been stalled for years.