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In number 3 of the agenda set for the sitting of the House of Representatives on June 25, it was mentioned that the Minister of Land Management, Balram Adhikari, would submit a proposal to discuss the land-related bill in the House. On that day, after presenting the amendments to the bill for decision, the agenda for passing the bill was fixed the previous day in the evening. But neither the ruling party Congress was consulted nor the opposition parties were aware of this.
According to the Congress leaders, suspicion arose after the bill to amend some of Nepal's land-related laws was placed on the agenda without consulting the ruling party. The land bill was dropped from the agenda that day after Congress leaders objected. But even till Thursday, , no agreement has been reached between the parties regarding the land bill . The Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajwadi Party has also been holding a different opinion on the said bill.
Kantipur's brief conversation with President Upendra Yadav regarding the provisions of the proposed bill and the concerns of JASPA:
What is your main concern in the land bill?
Our main concern regarding the Land Bill is to stop deforestation. Deforestation should be stopped legally. Tree cutting and deforestation should not be allowed under any circumstances. This is our first priority. Secondly, activities such as selling the land within the forest area and giving it to the land mafia, providing accommodation or opening a hotel should be stopped. Forests should be planted in forest areas so that the environment is protected and our lives are protected. This is our main goal. In the bill, provision has been made to give the forest land to builders and real estate companies. It is a crime to cut forest and give it to real estate. The provision of giving land to those living after clearing forests and giving forest land to developers and real estate will lead Nepal to desertification.
The government's statement is that giving land to landless Dalits and squatters is a priority, isn't it?
We completely agree that the problem of squatters should be solved. However, land mafia should not be benefited by destroying the environment and turning the country into a desert in the name of squatters. For example, the problem will not be solved just by giving one block of land to the families of 4/5 of the squatters. Education and employment should be arranged for them. So far, about 570,000 hectares of forest has been cleared and distributed, but the problem of squatters has not been solved. Only land mafia and land brokers have benefited from the land distributed in the name of squatters. It should be closed.
The government does not want to take this bill to the committee, what is your opinion about it?
The suspicion has been raised because the government is trying to pass this bill through a quick process without referring it to the committee. The intention of the bill is not clear. The current law is not an obstacle to solve the problem of squatters, it is also possible with the currently implemented law. However, this bill has been brought in the name of squatters to benefit the land mafia.
What is your condition with the ruling party regarding the land bill?
Our position is that the bill should be taken to the committee and discussed comprehensively after consultation with environmentalists. This is a matter related to the future of the country and our lives. This bill should be pushed forward by discussing with experts and not by consulting land mafia and land brokers.
