Maoists oppose land acquisition

	PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE KATHMANDU, Dec 14: The process of selecting contractor for the construction of the much-touted Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Highway has been delayed due to objection by local people led by the UCPN (Maoist) over the acquisition of land for the project. The government in the current fiscal year has allocated Rs 350 million for land acquisition for the 75-km express highway.  It has set aside Rs 325 million to open the track, which is to be completed by Nepal Army. The government is acquiring a total of 140 bighas of land in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Makwanpur and Bara districts for the project. A highly placed source at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) told Republica that the locals of Khokana of Lalitpur and Ipa Amchaur and Sisneri VDCs of Makwanpur have been obstructing the process of land measurement, placing different demands. “The process of land measurement in 3 km section of the 18 km stretch in Ipa and Amchour VDCs has come to a halt. Our officials are too scared to resume work,” the source said. The process of fixing compensation for around 40 bighas of land to be acquired in Thingan, Ambhanjyang, Hatiya and Phaparbari began only recently, due to long-running dispute with the locals, who were pressing the government for more compensation. The source added that locals of Khokana have warned the ministry officials to halt land measurement works, stating that the government officials have been ignoring woes of the local people. They have also been saying that big infrastructure projects would pose serious threat to the identity of the historic place. “Local leaders and cadres of UCPN (Maoist) have been protesting the government projects in the area,” the source said. Khokana locals are opposing the fast-track road, stating that other infrastructure projects like high-tension line of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), proposed Bagmati corridor project and the proposed Outer Ring Road projects have already acquired a large portion of land in the area. “We are not in a position to call Expression of Interest (EoI) for the construction and operation of the fast track road under public-private-partnership due to problems being faced in the land acquisition process,” the source added. Constituent Assembly member from the area Pampha Bhsual told Republica that the locals have serious objection over the construction of big infrastructure projects as the concerned government authorities do not consult them before planning the project. “Ministry officials are yet to visit the area to convince the locals. The locals have been losing their land in the name of different infrastructure projects that also pose serious threats to historical significance of Khokana,” Bhusal, who was also in the Maoist-led government that approved the project, said. “We are not against infrastructure development, but we have reservation over the practice of planning projects without the participation of local stakeholders.” A ministry official said the government should freeze land in the alignment area to ensure smooth acquisition of land by providing compensation to the locals as per the proposed plan. prabhakarji@gmail.com
Published on 2010-12-14 03:00:24 http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=26151