Kathmandu. Pokhara—The metropolis has removed 320 shutters and other structures of Bastola Complex constructed illegally on the land of the proposed bus park at Prithivichowk in Pokhara using dozers.

The Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has removed the Bastola Complex on the banks of the Seti River at Prithivichowk. The entrepreneurs had vacated the shutters as per the agreement between the metropolis and the landowners to remove the structure.

Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said the agreement was reached with the owners of the complex and the entrepreneurs living there. According to him, the complex has been completely removed with the understanding to support the campaign of constructing the bus park.

“We had an agreement with the landowners. It was vacated accordingly. We will not remove the squatters without management. “, he said. Earlier, the metropolis had operated bulldozers at the shutters at the entrance of the bus park on June 4.

The land belonging to Bastola Complex vacated by the metropolis has been registered in the name of individuals. Although the bus park was acquired in 2030 BS, the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee later decided to allocate land in the acquired land.

KMC has also formed a judicial committee under the leadership of former justice to investigate into the issue including the decision of land swap of land. The report of the committee is yet to be submitted. Mayor Acharya said that the truth would come out within a few days as the investigation of the landowners with land ownership certificates was also being carried out at a rapid pace.

Dipendra Marsani, ward chairman of Pokhara-9, said that all the land of the bus park would be vacated. He said that alternative management works have also been initiated for the landless squatters who have encroached upon the land of the bus park. The metropolis has started removing the structures of the bus park from June 18.

“The bulldozer can be operated only by managing the real squatters living in a large area of the bus park. It is now being investigated whether the landless squatters have ÷ land. ” said Marsani, ward chairperson.

The KMC has said that the document verification of 337 out of 572 families in the squatters settlement has been completed so far and the remaining will also be completed soon. Mayor Acharya said that some landless squatters have not provided the correct details for three generations and have also given false details.