Minister Aryal says govt reclaimed around 2 square km encroached land in 1.5 years

Land Reform Minister Padma Kumari Aryal speaks during a press meet in Kathmandu, on Friday, February 28, 2020.

Kathmandu, February 28

Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Kumari Aryal says the government reclaimed more than 284 bigaha (around two square km) government land encroached by private individuals and companies in the past one-and-a-half years.

The minister organised a press conference in Kathmandu on Friday and shared her achievements since she took over the ministry 18 months ago. She said she had begun to implement recommendations of a panel formed to protect the government land.

In another context, Aryal said the government was drafting an Integrated Land Bill that would also incorporate provisions about the management of the guthi land. Earlier last year, the government had withdrawn the Guthi Bill owing to protests from stakeholders. Aryal today claimed that the government already held sufficient discussions with the protestors since then.