Pokhara Advances in Managing Squatters at Proposed Bus Park

Pokhara Metropolitan City has moved forward with the process of managing squatters at the proposed bus park area in Prithvichowk, Ward 9.

After removing business structures, including the Bastola Complex, and over 500 other structures built inside the bus park, the metropolitan city has started alternative management work for the squatters.

There are 572 families living in the bus park area, which has been encroached upon.

Pokhara Metropolitan City Chief Dhanraj Acharya said that the management process for genuine squatters and unmanaged residents within the bus park area will be fully transparent, fair, and fact-based.

The metropolitan city has accepted the report of the investigation committee formed to manage the bus park area and construct a well-planned bus park in the long term.

Management Process

The committee had submitted its report to the metropolitan city last week.

The metropolitan city has made public the schedule for the upcoming work of removing structures from the bus park and has clarified that no genuine squatters will be treated unfairly and that fake individuals will not be able to take advantage of state facilities.

"We have moved the management process forward based on the report prepared by the committee. Now, every step will be taken in a lawful and evidence-based manner, so no one should rush to conclusions. We are not in favor of treating anyone unfairly. Our goal is to protect genuine squatters and unmanaged residents and make the bus park area well-planned," said Metropolitan Chief Acharya.

According to the squatter management process set by the metropolitan city, discussions have been held with the simplification committee regarding the report, and on Ashar 1, 2083, the actual household details and the facts included in the report will be matched.

Then, on Ashar 2, 2083, the preliminary list will be made public, and arrangements have been made to submit any claims, objections, or suggestions against the names included in the list within seven days.

Chief Acharya said that the final list will be published only after studying all claims and evidence.

"After the list is made public, sufficient opportunity will be given to the concerned person to present their case. The final list will be published only after studying the received claims, objections, and suggestions, and if necessary, an investigation will be conducted. Therefore, this process is a process of identifying facts rather than removing anyone," he said.

According to the metropolitan city, after the seven-day period is over, the final list will be made public, and the families included in the final list will be shown the place to be relocated as soon as possible.

From the date of relocation, the process of evacuating the settlement will begin within seven days.

Metropolitan Chief Acharya said that this campaign is necessary to develop the bus park area as a well-planned public infrastructure in the long term, and the metropolitan city prioritizes the proper management of genuine squatters along with the protection of public property.

The squatters inside the bus park have expressed their commitment to cooperate in the management of genuine squatters through a fair investigation.

Prem Gurung, the coordinator of the Landless Squatters Concern Committee, said that the squatters will not be an obstacle to development and that their management should be done before the bus park is evacuated.