KATHMANDU: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious concerns over hundreds of ropanis of land belonging to the Nepal Trust being transferred in the names of individuals and being used privately.
In its 63rd annual report, the Auditor General stated that despite legal provisions prohibiting Nepal Trust property from being registered in the name of any individual, a Cabinet decision taken on September 11, 2007, enabled trust land in different parts of Kathmandu to be transferred to tenants.
According to the report, 172 ropanis and 15 annas of land located in Matatirtha, Thankot, Satungal, and Ichangu — previously registered under the Nepal Trust and with ownership certificates issued by the Kalanki Land Revenue Office — were found to have been transferred to tenants and their successors.
The report stated that the land was registered in the names of tenants in violation of existing laws and pointed out that the trust had failed to investigate the matter and reclaim ownership of the property.
The Auditor General also noted that tenants are still cultivating 404 ropanis and 6 annas of Nepal Trust land in 11 locations, including Balaju, Swayambhu, Shesh Narayan, and Thankot.
The report further revealed that a private school is also operating on Nepal Trust land.
Similarly, the report said the trust has failed to take steps for demarcation and protection of large areas of land registered under its ownership.
These include 122 ropanis, 10 annas, 1 paisa and 3 daam of land along the Kathmandu bypass, 15,101 ropanis, 11 annas, 2 paisa and 1 daam in Dhunibesi of Dhading, 8 ropanis, 10 annas and 3 paisa in Godavari of Lalitpur, and 27 ropanis, 13 annas, 1 paisa and 1 daam in Panchpokhari of Sindhupalchok.
In total, the report stated that the trust has not initiated proper protection and boundary demarcation of 15,502 ropanis, 2 annas and 3.84 daam of land spread across eight different locations.
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