KATHMANDU, Feb 26: A white paper released by Nepal Trust, a government authority to oversee the nationalized former royal family land and property in the country, has revealed that the government lost Rs 5 billion rental fee while leasing out the valuable land at Durbarmarga three years ago. 

According to the white paper lunched on Tuesday by Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel, who is the ex-officio chairperson of the Nepal Trust board, the government had approved lease proposal of Rs 6.45 billion from Thamsherku Trekking Pvt. Ltd as rent for 30 years while leasing the land. Thamsherku was selected from among three companies aspiring to lease the nearly two Ropani land opposite to the Narayanhiti Palace Museum. A decision made at secretary level on February 17, 2017 stated that Thamsherku had proposed Rs 6.45 billion to lease the land belonging to the Trust for 30 years. 

But within two months on April 18 the Trust office corrected its decision of lease approval reducing the lease amount by Rs 5 billion through a joint-secretary level decision. The joint secretary had used delegated responsibility while correcting the decision of lease approval, according to the white paper. 

The Trust has stated that the lease amount was corrected after complaint from the Thamsherku claiming that it had proposed just Rs 1.40 billion as rent to lease the land. Sources at the office however said that the correction of lease amount, which was approved based on the proposal itself, is suspicious. 

Patrons of Nepal Trust was the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi during the period. 

The revelation has come at a time when the government is facing widespread criticism for leasing out the government property to Thamsherku of Yeti Group for a cheaper fare. Thamsherku has leased another valuable land at Tahachal and Gokarna Forest Resort from the Trust office. 

Meanwhile, Nepal Trust has initiated a process to reclaim the 174 Ropanis of land belonging to the government at Matatirtha, Kathmandu stating that the tenants cannot claim their share on land owned by the government. 

“We have lodged a complaint at the commission to search and investigate the public and Guthi (trust) land reclaiming ownership of Nepal Trust at nearly 173 ropanis of land in Matatirtha,” said Minister Pokhrel at the press meet. 

Ownership of the land belonging to the Trust was transferred to individuals’ names through the cabinet decision seven years ago during the Baburam Bhattarai-led government. The government had decided to transfer the ownership of the land to its tenants following their claim over the land stating that it was given to them by the former royal family. The government had decided to transfer all land owned by late king Birendra and his family members, who were killed in the royal palace massacre, to the Trust’s name in 2007. 

According to the white paper, Nepal Trust has 21,562 ropanis of land across the country including some posh properties.

 
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