KATHMANDU: Minister for Urban Development, Mohammad Istiyak Rai on Sunday said the compensation to the lands rendered useless by the change of the river course cannot be ensured without government’s decision.

Minister Rai said spoke about that some legal hurdles while compensating to around 188 ropanis of land from Gokarna to Guheshwori section of the road with the change of course of the Bagmati River.

Informed this during the meeting of the parliamentary committees today, Minister Rai said among 614 ropanis of land which were recommended for compensation, the government provided compensation to the owners of 426 ropanis only. According to him, there were legal hurdles in case of the remaining 188 ropanies.

Locals of Gokarna and Guheshwori have been demanding compensation to 188 ropanies of land for the last several years saying that the Bagmati River changed its course many times.