Kathmandu: Minister for Land Management, Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Balram Adhikari, has urged local authorities to complete land classification activities by the end of the current fiscal year. During discussions on a proposal to amend several Nepal Acts related to land, Minister Adhikari emphasized that failure to meet the deadline could lead to various challenges.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Adhikari explained that the bill aims to address issues related to landless individuals, squatters, and unsystematic settlements while simplifying real estate activities and resolving administrative challenges. He refuted allegations that the bill favors land mafias and intermediaries, clarifying that it intends to regulate past land purchases lacking government permission, with over a hundred applications pending since 2074 BS.
Lawmakers engaged in the bill’s discussion stressed the importance of timely legal frameworks to tackle land issues. While ruling party MPs supported the bill’s positive legal provisions, opposition MPs expressed concerns about potential misuse, such as unnecessary subdivision and sale of arable land. The debate included inputs from legislators like Sushila Shirpali Thakuri, Ranendra Baraili, and Amaresh Kumar Singh, among others, highlighting the diverse perspectives on the proposed amendments.