Political Parties, Organizations, and Business Owners in Pokhara Agree to Vacate Encroached Land
April 24, Pokhara – The Pokhara Metropolitan City had issued a notice on April 17 to vacate encroached public and leased land and buildings. Following this, the Pokhara Valley Municipal Development Committee (PVDC) also issued a notice on April 21 to vacate lands under its ownership. The PVDC is the largest government agency holding land in Pokhara and manages properties including the Pokhara bus park, which has been the subject of disputes for five decades, except the areas under lease agreements. According to a recent study by the metropolitan city, out of 205 ropanis of bus park land, only around 19 to 20 ropanis remain vacant. The rest is occupied by squatters, disorganized settlements, and residential structures owned by individuals to whom the committee has sold or leased the land at various times.
In the institution area around Prithvi Chowk, land registered under the Pokhara Valley Municipal Development Committee has been occupied by labor organizations affiliated with the UML, Congress, and Maoist parties. These groups have constructed buildings and operate their offices there or lease them out. Although these labor organizations collect rent, they have not paid any dues to the government.
Buildings belonging to major local sports and cultural organizations such as Sahara Club and the Himalayan Cultural Family are also located in this area. These institutions have similarly been earning income by leasing their buildings. Since 1989, these political organizations have a history of occupying land in coordination with PVDC chairpersons. During the Maoist peace process, the Young Communist League (YCL) even established a camp there. Subsequently, other Maoist-affiliated labor groups built structures on committee land, continuing to house party leaders and members while leasing out parts of the buildings.
Civic activists have repeatedly raised concerns that government land should not be occupied and leased out. Over 11 ropanis of land in front of the Hong Kong Bazaar has been encroached upon by squatters or organizations linked to political parties. After the government led by Mayor Balendra Shah began efforts to clear these encroachments, older political organizations and various institutions agreed to vacate the land and buildings in the Prithvi Chowk area.
Mayor Dhanraj Acharya of Pokhara Metropolitan City has issued multiple notices offering alternatives. Those who have not vacated the premises have now been informed that eviction will proceed in accordance with the law. Mayor Acharya stated that political party-affiliated labor organizations and institutions in the institution area have agreed to vacate the buildings by May 23.
“They have now approached us confirming they will leave. Some business owners have already started efforts to clear these party and institution-run shops. Since the business owners who rented these spaces will need to coordinate, I have advised them to do so themselves,” Mayor Acharya said. “We have many options, but we do not have additional land to offer.”
The mayor added that there is near-complete consensus to vacate the land within the specified deadline. While discussions were held both collectively and individually, and multiple options provided earlier, the time for alternatives has passed, making it necessary to proceed with clearing the land.