Minister Adhikari commits to resolving Swargadwari Guthi issues through law amendment
He confirmed that a draft of the amendment is already prepared.
KATHMANDU: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, Balram Adhikari, has committed to resolving the issues faced by ‘Swargadwari Guthi-affected farmers’ through the amendment of the Guthi Sansthan Act, 2033.
He confirmed that a draft of the amendment is already prepared.
In response to questions raised by lawmakers during Tuesday’s meeting of the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee, Minister Adhikari stated, “We have introduced a land-related ordinance to address the issues related to Swargadwari Guthi, but it hasn’t been presented in Parliament yet. Now, we are focused on amending the provisions of the Guthi Act to resolve the problems of those affected by the Guthi system.”
He emphasized the need to bring the Guthi Bill as soon as possible, allowing farmers to acquire ownership of land they have cultivated, issuing land ownership certificates to farmers occupying Guthi lands, and ensuring the registration of land currently under cultivation but not yet registered.
These demands were raised by the Swargadwari Guthi-Affected Farmers Struggle Committee, which has been staging a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu since Magh 20, demanding solutions for the Guthi-affected farmers.
Minister Adhikari further pointed out that addressing broader land-related issues such as barren land, unregulated settlements, landless squatters, encroached lands, and boundary disputes requires the creation of a new law.
He revealed that the draft for a revised Land Reform Act of 2021 is already in the works.
In the same committee meeting, Member of Parliament Bhanubhakta Joshi highlighted that the Land Problem Resolution Commission had been unable to work swiftly due to the likelihood of a government change.
He stressed the need for concrete solutions for families living in encroached riverbank areas.
MP Surya Prasad Dhakal urged the government to work on a long-term solution to land-related issues, ensuring permanent resolution for all.
