Birgunj, May 1: Around 490 bighas of land belonging to the Special Economic Zone Authority in Simara have been encroached upon, with illegal settlements and farming activities reported on the site.
The SEZ originally owned 833 bighas of land, but only 343 bighas remain under its control, where industries and factories are currently being developed. The remaining land has been occupied by squatters who have built huts, houses, and are even cultivating crops.
Site in-charge and engineer Pappu Giri said that the authority has initiated steps to remove the illegal structures. Letters have been sent to Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City, the District Administration Office Bara, and the District Police Office Bara seeking coordination to clear the encroached land.
According to sub-engineer Ajay Kumar Chaudhary, some of the settlers were former workers of the Birgunj Sugar Mill who began living there after the factory shut down. Initially, each household had been allotted small plots, but the settlement has since expanded significantly. Currently, more than 600 households are occupying the land.
Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra stated that the administration is prepared to support efforts to reclaim the land and ensure security during the eviction process. He added that both the SEZ Authority and the Ministry of Home Affairs have requested coordination to remove the encroachments.
Authorities have already issued notices urging settlers to vacate the land and stop further cultivation, while discussions with relevant agencies are ongoing to take necessary action. #Nepal rrs
