Kaski, August 25
Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has identified 325 households from Pokhara Bus Park as landless people. The local government concluded the number after conducting a thorough investigation of the Dalit, landless, squatters and unorganised occupants at Pokhara Bus Park. PMC had sought applications for the management of landless people living in the Bus Park.
The applications filed by the occupants were cross-checked and investigated with facilitation from the ward level. PMC finally listed 242 households raising unorganised settlements, according to Mayor Dhanraj Acharya. In the initial phase, applications were received from 200 landless Dalits, 248 landless squatters and 116 unorganised settlers. The applications were verified by adopting the process of claim and objection.
An additional study was launched to verify details on the occupants. The final result showed 144 households as landless Dalit and 181 landless squatters totaling 325. Similarly, 242 families are categorised as unorganised settlers. Mayor Acharya further informed that with the identification of landless squatters, the local government would forward the process to manage these households well.
The ward committee had contributed well to preparing the report. “The local level will make a decision from its executive council and forward recommendation to the district committee for further action,” Mayor Acharya added. The issues of landless settlers have now reached a decisive stage.
Acharya underscored that local government was aware of the need to deliver justice to the victims. All seven district committees would be written after holding an executive council of PMC. The households were occupying the public land, Pokhara Bus Park, for years, thanks to the absence of strict intervention. Relocation of the identified households is the next step. In this regard, coordinator of Landless Squatters’ Concern Committee, Prem Gurung, said that landless people would not oppose the government’s move for development. However, before evacuation, we need proper management.
Gurung further argued, “It’s wrong to put the entire blame on us for not getting the Bus Park expanded. There are several reasons behind the sluggish expansion of the Bus Park.” He pledged that the settlers were ready to cooperate with PMC, but proper rehabilitation is imperative. PMC had acquired the land to develop a well-equipped bus park 50 years back.
But, for these years, no progress was made, thereby forcing the people to catch the long- and short-route vehicles for various destinations from a roadside at Prithvichowk. In addition to the landless people, some individuals had encroached upon the public land. Some months back, PMC had demolished the structures set up on the public land. It has made public its plan to build a modern bus park with the help of donor agencies.
