At a time when the country has been facing sever crisis of land accusation, participants criticized the Policy of Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy for Infrastructure Development Project saying that it will likely to create many hurdles in the future.

Senior officials from Nepal Electricity Authority, which is facing a lot of problems in the land accusation in the transmission line, suggested removing some of the clauses included in the policy.

Inaugurated by Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Govinda Raj Pokharel four papers were presented in National dissemination workshop on Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy for Infrastructure Development Project.

“This Policy is first of its kinds to deal the complex issues of land accusation,” said vice chairman Pokharel. Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director, Nepal Resident Mission, ADB, said that the views expressed in the workshop will help to improve the policy.

Organized by National Planning Commission and supported by Asian Development Bank Nepal Resident Mission, experts discussed the challenges faced by Nepal in land acquisition.

Chaired by member secretary of National Planning Commission Suresh Man Shrestha, Gopi Mainali joint secretary of NPC presented the paper on “Context and Rational of Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy.

Presented by Suresh Acharya, Regional Administrator and Chair Technical Committee for drafting the policy other paper Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy for Infrastructure Development Project: Key Features” delivered his remark.

Chaired by secretary Shrestha, land valuation expert Saroj Basnyat presented Theme Presentation “Developing a National Land Valuation Reference Index Former secretary Yub Raj Bhushal presented the paper on Land Valuation, Reference Value and Fund Management

Laxmi P. Subedi, Social Safeguards Specialist, ADB/NRM also presented his views on Social Safeguard Consideration in Legal Framework.

Joint Secretary of MoLRM Nagendra Jha presented his views on Land Acquisition: Issues & Challenges. Strengthening Land Acquisition Process: coordinated and comprehensive approach by Yogeshwar Parajuli, Development Commissioner, and Kathmandu Valley Development Authority.

Concluding the program secretary Shrestha said that the land accusation is very important components in the infrastructure development. Secretary Shrestha gave an example of Indian State of West Bengal saying how India’s leading car manufacturer withdrawn from West Bengal. He said that this is also politically very sensitive issue.