Banking News – Structures built on public land at Barhakilo Market in Gorkha Municipality-11 have been voluntarily vacated following a coordinated effort by local authorities to reclaim the encroached area.

The clearance operation was carried out through the joint initiative of Gorkha Municipality, the District Administration Office, the Division Forest Office, and the Okhlepakha Community Forest Users Group. The market had been operating on public and forest land for nearly 20 years.

According to the Division Forest Office, shop owners voluntarily vacated their houses and business structures on Tuesday after receiving repeated notices and coordination from the concerned authorities. More than 35 structures located within the forest area had been given a deadline to vacate by Asar 30 (mid-July).

The move follows a decision by the Gorkha Municipal Executive Committee to remove structures built on illegally occupied public land. In coordination with the District Administration Office, the Division Forest Office, Sub-Division Forest Office, and the community forest users’ group issued formal notices urging occupants to leave the site.

Division Forest Office Chief Madan Mohan Shandilya said the shop owners vacated the area after repeated written and verbal requests. He added that once all structures are removed, the land will be fenced to secure the forest area and prevent future encroachment.

The Barhakilo Market, located at the junction leading from the Abukhaireni–Gorkha Road toward Chepetar, has occupied public land for approximately two decades. Although authorities attempted to remove the market in 2016 (2073 B.S.), it was later re-established.

Shandilya said the land has already been surveyed and measured, and fencing will be installed to ensure the forest land is permanently protected from further encroachment.