KATHMANDU, July 16: While people are claiming that the ward office of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-13 is located on an individual's property, the ward office has been saying that the claim cannot be legally recognized.

According to Ward Chairman Dhruva Narayan Manandhar, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City-13 Ward Office is situated along the main road of Kalimati in Kathmandu. The location was formerly known as Kalimati Panchayat Ward-4, which is currently identified as Plot No-26. Under the current land survey, it falls under KMC Ward No-13. According to the ward map, the land of KMC Ward No-13 (Serial No 102-1103-23), with an area covering 395/45 sq. m. was established as the Panchayat Bhawan in 2024 BS.

On March 6, 1967 the then Ministry of Construction and Transport acquired about 71.2 ropanis of that place by giving compensation for 130 feet of personal land on the right side of the road to extend the main road from Bishnumati Bridge to Rabi Bhawan Chowk. After widening the road in that area and completing the construction of the road, a notice was published in the national gazette of 2028 BS to release the remaining land from the acquisition process.

Based on the notice published in the gazette, there is a legal provision to reclaim government land after completing the acquisition process. However, the current claimant has not initiated any procedure to regain possession of the 2 plots of land where the ward building is currently located. The claimant alleges that the landowner fraudulently acquired a portion of the land around the year 2044 BS, according to by Ram Sharan Dangol, the legal adviser for the 13th Ward's government land protection legal campaign.

Dangol says, "It is disheartening to witness government agencies, which should be safeguarding the land under government ownership, being involved in creating fake documents for the transfer of land back to individuals just on the basis of rumors. The ongoing discussion about Lalita Niwas land grab scam has raised suspicions about the presence of land mafia targeting government land. It is essential for local citizens to be vigilant on such matters."

Dangol said Lata Mainali is currently claiming over the 2 plots of land where the ward building is located, and this has resulted in six pending cases at the esteemed Kathmandu District Court. These cases include the demand for revoking the land ownership certificate. In this situation, the opposition side has no right to claim that the ward office land is theirs.

Currently, Lata Mainali, with her name on the land ownership documents, has acquired the land in her own name, which is contrary to the prevailing laws and regulations. In an effort to resolve the dispute, an agreement was reached through mediation, and subsequently, the Kathmandu District Court officially registered the settlement based on the reconciliation letter. As per the agreement, the land in question was transferred to Lata Mainali by the Land Revenue Office in Kalanki in the year 2072 BS.

According to the prevailing local market rates, Lata Mainali has acquired 12 anna of land worth millions of rupees for a total of Rs 6,000,000. Ward Chairman Manandhar affirms that there is no encroachment upon the opposing party's land, and all utilities such as electricity and telephone services for the building are registered under the name of the Ward Office.

 
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