KATHMANDU: Nineteen ropani and 10 aana of public land at Saraswatikhel Bus Park in Changunarayan Municipality-1 has been successfully reclaimed from private ownership, with a statue of Kalbhairav now established on the site.
Decades-Long Struggle for Public Land
The land, identified as plot number 47 and spanning 19 ropani 10 aana, was illegally registered in an individual’s name in 1985 and subsequently transferred to various private entities. Locals, upon discovering this, filed a complaint with the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Investigations into the matter, which came to light in the fiscal year 2060-061 (2003-2004 AD), led the CIAA to direct the Bhaktapur District Land Revenue Office to nullify the private registration and reinstate the land as public property.
Community Effort for Development
Following the return of the land to government ownership, a large statue of Kalbhairav has been erected through the joint efforts of the local government and community participation, according to Sijan Karki, Ward Chairman of Changunarayan Municipality-1.
“The public land, which was registered in an individual’s name, has been returned to the government’s name through the initiative of the local residents,” Karki stated. “The local government and residents are committed to its protection. We have also installed a stone statue of Kalbhairav and performed its consecration on this very land.”
Ward Chairman Karki further revealed plans to construct another temple at an estimated cost of Rs 2 million, a multi-purpose community building for about Rs 2 million, and to develop the area as a religious site to attract tourists.
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