Development infrastructure has reached Chepang Basti located in Bansgarhi Municipality-1 on the banks of Babai River, which is connected to Bardia National Park. A secondary school, ward office, health post and police station have reached the picturesque village of Chepang in the hilly area.
Ratna highway connecting Surkhet-Nepalganj passing through this settlement has increased the charm of the market. But the local Toplal Wali said that their problem is the same as they do not get the land owner. He is sad that at least those who have been living in the slums for a long time should be given landlord allowance. 112 houses of the market were burnt by fire on 3rd Baisakh 2070 in Chepang settlement of the intermediate area connected to Bardia National Park. After that, concrete buildings have started to be built here .
Now many market structures are fixed. After the construction of the Bheri-Babai diversion multi-purpose project has started, the hustle and bustle here is increasing . There are 40 small and big hotels operating in Chepangma. They also come from Banke, Bardia, Surkhet to eat the fish of Babai. Most of the highway travelers and tourists also stop here for fish dishes.
In the year 2040, during the expansion of Bardia Park, all the settlements of the former Sanosree Panchayat were transferred to the forest area of the former Taratal Panchayat, which is connected to Gulria. The forest area was cut down and settlements were settled here. Chepang village is spread over an area of 2 thousand 321 hectares, consisting of the Awadi and forest areas of Batulle, Kurulle, Khote and Bhangaha under the central area of the park.
Yamlal Sharma, a local resident who has been living for years, said that although he has applied to the Squatter Commission several times, he has not received any compensation from the landlord. He complained that they could not invest in big business and commercial animal husbandry as they could not get land mortgages and loans from banks due to lack of land owner supply. Parashuram Jaisi, chairman of the school management committee of Lakshmi Mavi Chepang, said that 607 houses are without supplies in Chepang Basti. This village with a population of about 2,500 is also the border connecting Banke, Surkhet and Salyan. Local Tank Khatri says that the government should invest in this area as a tourist area.
Residents of Chepang have to take a 2-hour bus ride to come to the area administration office in Bansgarhi if they need to do citizenship work. If you are seriously ill from here, you should go to Kohalpur, 30 km south. Locals who earn their livelihood from wage labour, hotels, grocery shops and farming have to travel 50 km to reach the municipal office Bansgarhi and 80 km to the headquarters Gulria.
Bardia Basgadhi-1 Chepang Basti . Photo: Kamal Panthi/Kantipur
