By Netra Shahi
Khalanga, Jan. 6: The Road Division Office, Jumla, has started removing structures built by encroaching on the public road.
A campaign has been started to remove structures and construction materials along the Karnali Highway in Jumla by providing counseling.
The Road Division Office has coordinated with Nepal Police, Chandannath Municipality and Civil Society for the purpose.

Removing the encroachment is a part of the road safety campaign started a month ago by the Road Division Office, Jumla.
“We asked the people to remove encroachments earlier but to no avail. Now, a large number of security personnel have been deployed and the encroachments are finally being removed,” said Raj Bahadur Mahat, chairman of Civil Society, Jumla.

According to Jumla Road Division Office Chief Rajib Shrestha, they have completed marking the encroached structures.
“In the first phase, we have removed the encroachments in buspark area. We expect support from the public in other areas too,” said Shrestha.

The municipality standard states that the road must be 15-metre wide, including a one-metre footpath.
Even the footpaths have been encroached by houses, temporary settlements and hotels.
“We have requested the people to remove the encroaching structures. If they do not fulfil their responsibility, we are using dozers to remove them,” said Shrestha.

The office plans to initiate the encroachment removing campaign in other areas like Tatopani, Litakot, Kudari, Triveni and Raralihi as well.
“We are removing encroached structures without being biased. Road is a public space and should be preserved, not encroached,” said Bijaya Kumari Prasai, Chief District Officer of Jumla.

The authorities had repeatedly requested the public to not encroach public space. Since their requests always went in vain, they started removing the structures by force.
Some people protested demolition of their structures.