Stating that the state has been bearing losses and could bear irreparable losses in future also if the current trend of giving permission to various organizations and individuals to use state lands without receiving any money from them is to continue, the CIAA asked the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and the Ministry of Land Reform and Management (MoLRM) to immediately halt this practice. [break]
According to the CIAA, altogether 148 various organizations have long been enjoying state lands under decisions of the cabinet. And the MoLRM is all set to allow 64 more organizations to use government lands free of cost.
"We took a decision to this effect, fearing that the government could face severe land-related problems in future," said CIAA Acting Chief Bhagwati Kumar Kafle, adding, "If the trend is to continue, exact data and records of government lands currently used by hundreds of organizations and individuals could eventually be compromised. The government would have to purchase back its own lands in future for huge amounts of money."
Kafle added that government could face a complicated situation in future for retrieving state lands which are currently used by institutions and individuals if these lands are damaged in natural catastrophes.
"As of today, some 5,000 to 7,000 ropanis of state lands have been misused by several governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals," said an official at the MoLRM. The Land Reform Ministry has been providing state lands to institutions and individuals free of cost for the past 14 years.
The CIAA´s decision has blocked the government´s bid to allow some 64 organizations to use state lands through cabinet decision.
Is has been disclosed that governmental and non-governmental offices, various schools, sport institutions, religious and social institutions, clubs, charity organizations and individuals who have links with high-profile politicians have long been enjoying state lands free of cost.
According to a source at the Land Reform Ministry, Janamaitri Hospital in Kathmandu has been using 88 ropanis of state land and the Madan Bhandari Pratisthan and Narayan Prasad Pokharel Pratisthan, about three ropanis of state lands in Kathmandu.
The CIAA has asked Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire to recommend to the cabinet to stop giving its nod to the reckless trend of giving out state lands to various organizations and individuals.
"The chief secretary is also asked to instruct the Ministry of Land Reform not to take any decision paving the way for various organizations and individuals to use government lands," states the CIAA decision.
According to the CIAA, organizations and individuals that took permission from the government for using state lands in the name of social service are found to have been renting out such lands and taking undue advantage.
The commission has also asked the OPMCM to form a team to probe alleged gross misuse of state lands.
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