Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has returned over 208 ropanis of public land worth Rs 23 billion.

The metropolis has set a target to remove encroachment on 1,859 ropanis and 14 ana land worth around Rs 200 billion.

Stating that the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS has given full authority to the local government to protect, manage and reclaim public land and property, Mayor Balen Sah said that he has launched a campaign to end the tendency of encroachment, capture and grabbing public land.

According to him, more than 208 ropanis of public land worth more than Rs 23 billion have been returned to public use under the campaign so far. He also said that some encroached river corridors have also been removed.

According to him, an implementation committee has been formed with the goal of restoring 1,859 ropanis and 14 ana of encroached land for public use, taking the report prepared by the commission formed under the chairmanship of former secretary Ram Bahadur Rawal as the policy basis to take the conservation of public land with more priority.