Public Land Must Stay Public

Kathmandu is grappling with rising incidents of public land encroachment, and it's troubling to note that even prominent individuals and respected schools are involved in this trend. The Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) recently revealed that around 200 ropanis of land near the Dhobi Khola have been taken over without any authorization. According to land surveys done in 1964, 1987, and 1999, KVDA estimates that about 3,000 ropanis of riverbank land in Kathmandu have been passed on to private individuals illegally. To better understand the extent of the problem, this expanse is ten times the size of Tundikhel and extends from Tilganga to Chobhar. Happily, the crackdown on land encroachment has gained momentum currently, with KVDA initiating steps to freeze the properties of those found guilty of illegal land occupation. For instance, action has already been taken against those who grabbed land around Madhav Khola. From March 16, KVDA has prohibited illegal plotting within the valley and has rejected 1,150 land plot applications to date. KVDA has officially labeled at least 275 plots as illegal and has issued a warning to the public against buying or selling them. Meanwhile, 392 plots have also been confirmed legal, proof that regulated land transactions remain possible if proper procedures are followed.