Land commission to allocate only seven dhurs of land in urban areas

Dhangadhi: The Land Problem Resolution Commission has announced that citizens residing in urban areas will be allotted only seven dhurs of land under the current working procedure.

According to the commission's guidelines, 130 square meters (approximately 7.67 dhurs) will be granted to each eligible citizen in urban areas. The classification of urban and agricultural areas has been determined by local authorities. However, this provision has sparked concerns, especially in Kailali, where 135,000 landless citizens have registered for land allocation.

Yagyaraj Upadhyay, Chairman of the Land Problem Resolution Commission, Kailali, has stated that distributing land ownership certificates to landless individuals, squatters, and unorganized settlers under this provision is impractical. "The existing procedure allows only 130 square meters per person in urban areas, while some individuals currently occupy up to 20 kattas of land," he said. Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City has also set a minimum allotment requirement of 10 dhurs for constructing a house, which contradicts the commission’s new limit of seven dhurs.

Commission officials raised these concerns at an orientation program in Dhangadhi, urging authorities to reconsider the land area and revenue collection policies in the land distribution process. Upadhyay emphasized, “A single house cannot be built on seven dhurs of land. The current procedure is impractical, and we cannot implement it effectively.”

In Kanchanpur, 72,930 individuals have registered for land, but local officials believe the actual number could be higher due to missing records at the municipal level. Netra Prasad Pant, Chairman of the Land Problem Resolution Commission, Kanchanpur, mentioned that an upcoming discussion on Falgun 13 will finalize the total records and address legal complexities.

Meanwhile, Bir Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of Sudurpaschim Province, emphasized the need for practical solutions rather than using the Land Commission for political appointments. He stated, "The Nepal government, political parties, and citizens all demand proper land ownership. Those in leadership must fulfill their responsibilities with determination, rather than just seeking resources."