Mustang. Apple cultivation has started on public land in Mustang. Although the promotion and development of agriculture sector, improvement in the livelihood of the locals and expansion of apple cultivation from the environmental point of view are relevant, the trend of apple cultivation on public land and river banks has increased without the coordination of government agencies.
In all the five local levels of the district, the trend of apple cultivation on public land has increased. Although collective apple farming has been done at the community level, there are problems and challenges in the revenue, government records and disaster risk reduction.
At a civic hearing programme organised by Gharpajhong rural municipality on Thursday, locals criticised the encroachment of public land. They complained that the local levels and people’s representatives have not been able to protect the public land even though the Local Level Operation Act, 2074 BS has delegated powers to the concerned local levels for the protection and development of public land.
According to the stakeholders, land encroachment is taking place at the community level by shrinking the streams of the river in Rajkhola of Marfa of Gharpajhong-2, Syang Khola of Gharpajhong-3 and Dhumba Khola of Gharpajhong-5. According to them, apple cultivation and construction of houses by encroaching on public land by shrinking the stream of the river has created the risk of disaster.
Due to climate change, the temperature of the mountainous region is increasing and it has the possibility of melting mountains, bursting glacial lakes and flooding, causing human and physical risk due to encroachment in rivers and rivulets. The area was damaged due to floods in Kagbeni on August 1, 2080 BS. Locals have complained that they have to face natural disasters in Kagbeni as the stream of Kagkhola flowing through Muktinath has been encroached upon. The land has been expanded for apple cultivation by shrinking the streams of Marfa Apple and Dhumba Rivulet at Gharpajhong.
Exploitation of river areas has also increased in other municipalities of the district. Although there is a huge potential for apple cultivation in the district, there is a legal complication in the process of renting out the public land in the absence of measurement. Therefore, there is a competition to cultivate apples by encroaching on public land. Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal clarified that it was the responsibility of the local level to stop encroachment of public land and protect such land.
He said that complaints of encroachment of public land have been received and investigation is underway. Mohan Singh Lalchan, chairperson of Gharpajhoma rural municipality, said they have received complaints of encroachment of land in public places and river areas. As public land is a matter of problem, he pointed out the shortcomings seen in it and said that those who encroach on the land will be brought to justice.
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