Sudurpaschim University faces land encroachment, affecting agricultural programs in Tikapur

The land of Sudurpaschim University has been encroached upon, with 300 out of 380 bighas of land belonging to its Tikapur Multipurpose Campus under illegal occupation, according to the university’s registrar, Binod Lekhak.

In 2062 BS, the then Tikapur Development Committee allocated 380 bighas of land for the establishment of the campus. However, the campus has only been able to utilize 80 bighas. The land has been encroached upon under the pretext of being for freed Kamaiyas and landless squatters. Despite having sufficient land in Tikapur, the university faces challenges in conducting agricultural programs due to this encroachment, affecting practical work for the agriculture faculty, Lekhak explained.

Currently, the agriculture faculty can only use 40 bighas of land. The inability to establish agricultural farms and fish ponds has created difficulties for students in conducting practical work, as noted by the university. “Despite repeated requests to reclaim the encroached land, the issue remains unresolved.”

Registrar Lekhak expressed optimism that the current government will reclaim the encroached land, and the university is actively pursuing this matter.

Previously, efforts to remove the encroachment were hindered by the political protection afforded to those occupying the land. Although the university has investigated and attempted to reclaim the encroached land, these efforts have yet to yield significant results.