KATHMANDU, March 27: The Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has issued a report on the encroachment of 13 ropani, 12 anna, two daam of government land on both banks of the Dhobi Khola river by various individuals for private use. However, efforts to reclaim the land have been stalled for a year and a half due to the presence of influential individuals utilizing the government land.

Around a year and a half ago, on November 30, 2022, the KVDA issued a public notice to vacate the encroached government land on both banks of Dhobi Khola within 35 days. Despite the notice, no action has been taken to clear the encroached land. 

After the notice was published by KDVA, the staff of the KDVA studied the encroachment of government land in the Dhobi Khola corridor. After the study they prepared a report. According to the report, the government land of plot numbers 235, 237, 239, 364, 423, 9, 431 etc. of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-7 have been encroached upon for private purposes. 

Similarly, the KDVA issued a report that various individuals have encroached on land of plot numbers 131, 187, 393, 385, 335, 334, 336, 337, 340, 402 etc. of KMC-7. 

According to the KDVA, KMC-ward office-7 showed interest after the KDVA prepared a report about encroachment of government land. Prakash Aryal, head of the KDVA's Kathmandu Project Office, said that in some places, the ward office has managed to clear the encroached land by itself. 

"We have learned that Ward Office-7 has successfully cleared some of the encroached areas. However, the majority of the encroached locations remain as it is," he stated. However, an employee of the KDVA revealed that the KDVA faced challenges and admitted its inability to reclaim the encroached government land due to the influential individuals who are currently occupying the land. 

The staff of the KDVA prepared a report about the encroached land on the basis of the field book of the land revenue and survey office. Another employee of the KDVA said that it is practically difficult to clear the encroached land because there is no detailed study conducted on it.

"We have studied the encroached government land based on the field book of the land revenue and survey office, but it is necessary to go to the field once again and conduct a detailed study," he said. 

 According to the report prepared by the KDVA, the land of plot numbers 402, 147, 421, 405, 140, 148, 152, 154 etc. are still being used by various people for private purposes. 

Last year, while the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) was attempting to clear the slums in Thapathali, KDVA also had plans to reclaim the encroached land of the Dhobi Khola Corridor. Despite KMC's efforts, it was unsuccessful in removing the squatters in Thapathali. Meanwhile, the KDVA opted to remain silent on the matter.

According to Dhobi Khola Corridor and Kapan-Budhanilkantha Flood Control Project, 96 percent progress of Dhobi Khola Corridor has been physically completed. In the fiscal year 2010/11, the Dhobi Khola Corridor Project was constructed with the aim of controlling the river in the central area of Kathmandu and preparing a 9-meter link road on both banks of Dhobi Khola. 

According to the project, about Rs 3 billion have been spent on this work so far.

Budhanilkantha-2 starts from Bhadrakali and Dhobi Khola Corridor ends at Bagmati Dobhan in Buddhanagar. The riverbanks on both sides span at a length of 12 kilometers. The KVDA has been overseeing this project.

 
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