Pokhara Metropolitan intensifies drive to reclaim public land

POKHARA, July 14: Pokhara Metropolitan City has stepped up its campaign to reclaim encroached public land, with its recent efforts receiving praise during a public hearing held at Pokhara City Hall on Monday.

Although participants raised concerns over several municipal issues, many commended the metropolitan leadership for clearing encroachments from public land, including the Pokhara Bus Park, Firke Khola and surrounding areas.

The metropolitan office recently removed illegally occupied structures from the Pokhara Bus Park, Amarsingh Chowk and the Firke Khola corridor using bulldozers, with support from local stakeholders.

Responding to questions about encroachments in other parts of the city, Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said the metropolitan would not back down from its campaign to protect public land under any circumstances.

"Within a short time, we will make public a detailed inventory of all public land in Pokhara. Our preliminary estimate suggests that nearly 81,000 ropanis of public land, including forest areas, exist within the metropolitan," Acharya said.

He said anyone found occupying public land would first be notified to vacate it. If they failed to comply, the metropolitan would remove the encroachments in accordance with the law.

"There will be no compromise on protecting public property," he added, noting that open spaces, once common across Pokhara, have become increasingly difficult to find.

Acharya said the metropolitan plans to build playgrounds and parks in all 33 wards. He added that 160 structures built within the Firke Khola corridor have already been demolished, while a few more remain to be removed.

The city also plans to develop an eight-kilometer corridor from Andheri Kuna to Gaighat along Firke Khola, featuring pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes.

Regarding the long delayed Pokhara Bus Park project, the mayor said construction would begin after the proper resettlement of squatters currently living on the site.

Participants suggested that the bus park should be developed within the 187 ropanis of land originally acquired for the project. Acharya said some of the land within the designated area is privately owned and that compensation would be required if those owners are to be relocated.

He also announced that the process of identifying the boundaries of the Tundikhel public land in Pokhara 1 would begin soon. Stressing that encroaching on roads, irrigation canals, open grounds or any other public land is illegal, he urged individuals and businesses occupying such land to vacate it voluntarily.

Participants also raised concerns about municipal service delivery and development projects. Several speakers called for equal enforcement of the law, protection of irrigation canals and public spaces, and fair management of squatters before the bus park project moves forward.

Mayor Acharya assured participants that the metropolitan would address the concerns raised during the hearing and remain committed to improving governance and protecting public assets.