Dozer Resumes Demolition After Homeowners Present Land Ownership Certificates

A dozer has resumed work to remove unauthorized structures near the Vishnumati Riverbank close to the new bus park. The government team concluded that houses were constructed by illegally reclaiming land from the riverbank. If the homeowners’ land is found to be legally owned, that land will be returned. Kathmandu, 19 Baisakh.

During the removal of unauthorized constructions along the riverbank near the new bus park, the dozer had previously paused after around 10-12 households claimed to possess legal ownership certificates (laalpuja) for their land. According to Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer (CDO) Ishwar Raj Paudel, the government team dispatched for investigation determined that these houses must be demolished.

“The team reported that these houses were built by uplifting land directly from the riverbank,” CDO Paudel stated. “The demolition operation has now resumed on these structures.” According to him, the houses were found to have been built in violation of established standards. Following further thorough investigation, if the homeowners’ legal land other than the riverbank area is identified, that land will be returned to them. The homeowners had taken a firm stance refusing to allow demolitions, citing possession of valid ownership certificates, which prompted the deployment of the government team. After an 8-member team verified the actual status of the land, the dozer has recommenced demolition, CDO Paudel added.