POKHARA: Pokhara Metropolitan City is preparing to resume the process of managing the settlement of landless squatters, and unorganized settlers who have been living for years in the proposed Pokhara Bus Park area at Prithvi Chowk.
According to the final report of an investigation conducted by the metropolitan city, 567 families are currently residing in the Bus Park area. Of them, 144 families have been identified as landless Dalits, 181 as landless squatters, and 242 as unorganized settlers. The details of these families have been verified by the municipal executive meeting.
Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said families genuinely identified as landless or squatters would be relocated only after alternative arrangements are made. According to him, several locations have already been identified for land management, while the remaining process will be carried out through the District Land Commission from Sunday.
“The settlement management process was halted for a few days as we had to prioritize rescue and relief operations following the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi region,” Mayor Acharya said. “Now, the remaining decision-making process will resume.”
He added that the remaining work related to demarcating the Firke River and implementing the required standards would also be taken forward as the monsoon weakens.
The government acquired land in 2032 BS to construct a well-equipped bus park in Pokhara. However, nearly five decades after the plan was initiated, the bus park has yet to be constructed due to squatter settlements and encroachment. As a result, vehicles are still forced to park along the road at Prithvi Chowk while picking up and dropping off passengers.
Recently, the metropolitan city removed unauthorized commercial shutters operating within the bus park premises. After clearing the area, the metropolis plans to construct a technology-friendly and environmentally sustainable bus park with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
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