Kathmandu – The ruling party Nepali Congress has proposed a five-point amendment to the bill to amend some Nepal laws related to land.

During the clause-by-clause discussion on the bill, the Nepali Congress proposed an amendment to improve the bill. This includes considering the constitutional provisions, the interpretation/decision of the Supreme Court, and not conflating squatters, landless, and unorganized settlers.

First: Legal avenues should not be opened to allow the exemption to be used for purposes other than the purpose for which it was taken.

Second: The issue of land and forests is also related to the jurisdiction of the provincial and local governments. Therefore, coordination is necessary.

Third: Squatters, landless, and unorganized settlers should not be considered in the same place.

Fourth: The suspicions of those who say that deforestation will occur if the land bill is converted into an act should be dispelled.

Fifth: The government should not be given the authority to formulate guidelines or procedures.

The Nepal Act Amendment Bill seeks to amend three acts related to land. These include the Land Act 2021, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, and the Forest Act 2076.