MP Rajendra Kumar Rai Demands Release of Land in Hile Bazaar

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) MP Rajendra Kumar Rai has demanded that the government immediately release the land in Hile Bazaar, Dhankuta Municipality, which has been blocked for a long time. Speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, he drew attention to the fact that the process stuck in the Ministry of Land Reform should be expedited immediately, as the investment of local residents and businessmen worth billions is at risk. He stated that local residents and businessmen are in serious trouble due to the land blockade in Hile Bazaar, the main tourist center of Dhankuta. He said that economic activities have been slowing down in the historic Hile Bazaar, where tourists from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and even Sikkim come. According to MP Rai, out of 1151 ropanis of land in the Uttarapani tea garden system in 2066 BS, 148 ropanis of land were exchanged and distributed to various public structures and local residents with land ownership certificates as per the ministry's decision. Playgrounds have been constructed with the federal government's budget, bus parks with the municipality's budget, cremation grounds with the initiative of the ward office, Vakrakunda temple, and private houses and commercial buildings of 266 local residents on that land. The problem started when the land was blocked by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority verbally in 2071 BS and formally in 2075 BS. MP Rai informed the house that thereafter, the locals approached the special court, and the court entrusted the Ministry of Land Reform with the authority to make necessary decisions on this matter. He mentioned that due to the land being blocked, local businessmen have been deprived of banking transactions and loans despite constructing physical structures worth three to four billion rupees. He expressed dissatisfaction that although a committee comprising representatives from the Land Revenue, Survey, Forest Office, and Treasury and Accounts Controller Office (Kolenika) under the leadership of the District Coordination Committee has submitted a report with field inspection to the ministry, the work has not progressed. He demanded that the government immediately solve the problems of the affected citizens, as the new government has pledged to provide good governance and swift service.