Current condition of controversial Giri Bandhu Tea Estate

Land dispute amid political showdown 

KATHMANDU, May 16: After CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli accused the Nepali Congress (NC) of selling 70 bighas of land belonging to Giri Bandhu Tea Estate in exchange for a commission, there are indications of a shift in Nepali politics. The land in question, now part of Birtamod Municipality-5 and Arjundhara-11 in Jhapa, has undergone significant changes, with much of it still covered by tea plantations and forests.

The area now includes a large human settlement, a bus park, a large hotel, and offices of various organizations. Approximately 400 families reside on the land, which has been divided into 1,153 plots. Of the 51 bighas of land located in Birtamod-5 and Arjundhara-11, 38 bighas have been plotted, while the remaining land is vacant.

Commercial institutions such as Tek Bahadur Giri Bus Park, Pathibhara Engineering College, and Kantipur Driving Center operate in the plotted area, along with residential houses and more than two dozen hotels. The Supreme Court has ordered the nationalization of land in the name of Giri Bandhu Tea Estate that is not used for tea production.

The publication of the full text of the court's decision has left the residents of the land confused. This situation has set the stage for a confrontation between the ruling CPN-UML and the main opposition party, NC, both in the House and on the streets.

What is the reality of the situation? This will be uncovered gradually. However, it is expected that the issue of the land, along with cooperative fund scandals, will heat up Nepali politics in the coming days.