Irregularity won't be tolerated in land compensation distribution: Minister Yadav

Kathmandu, Aug. 6

Forest and Environment Minister Pradeep Yadav has said that not even a single tree will be cut until the land that has already been compensated is cleared and adequate budget is ensured.

"Only if the necessary budget for the construction of the airport in Nijgadh is ensured by evacuating Tangiya village, which has received compensation for the construction of international airport, the Ministry of Forests and Environment will give permission to cut the trees," he said while inaugurating building of Armed Forest Guards Barracks at Sagarnath in Ishwarpur Municipality-4 in Sarlahi.

According to the Secretariat of Minister Yadav, he made it clear that he was not against Nijgadh Airport as it would be the lifeline of Madhes.

But he stated that he was against the practice of clearing the land by cutting the trees, and then establishing a settlement there and distributing the compensation given.

"This doesn't work anymore. The ministry will not allow the cutting of even a single tree until the necessary budget for the airport is ensured by clearing the land that was previously compensated," the secretariat quoted the minister as saying.

Stating that he would not back down from taking any steps to bring down the forest mafia, he instructed the forest guards to work for the protection of forests as per the instructions of the ministry.

The Minister said that as the Ministry of Forests is an agency that is not applauded but criticised, he urged them to show due diligence in forest protection even after being scolded. Stating that complaints have been heard about giving chances to the smugglers for wood, stone and pebble smuggling, he asked them to improve and follow the instructions of the ministry.

Minister Yadav said that as the MoFE would organise a programme to honour the best employees and necessary preparations were being made, the guards should put their efforts to receive the honour from the country.

Rich people have also occupied the land in the name of landless so the land-ownership certificates will be distributed only after proper verification of such people, he said.

"There are also people who own luxurious houses and cars in Kathmandu and other big cities, and also have received the landless identity. I know hundreds of them. We will not spare those who don gold chains worth hundreds of thousands and pretend to be landless," said Minister Yadav. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 August 2022.