“We have informed the locals to remove their houses and huts within six months,” informed Sindhulpalchowk District Forest Office chief Ananda Chaudharyhe. Most of the illegally constructed houses and huts along the highway are operating as restaurants, shops and hotels. [break]
The encroachments, mostly from the Bandau to Sukutesh forest areas, had intensified in the last two years and today the number of huts along the highway number over two dozen.
“Many locals are claiming that the public land is under lease and they are paying lease money to the Community Forest Consumers Committee, but the law doesn´t allow them to do so,” said Chaudhary.
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