Many dzongkhags are strictly implementing the circular from the National Land Commission which directs the dzongkhags and gewogs to abide by the National Land Act 2007. The Land Act states encroachment of state-owned land is an offence of petty misdemeanour.
Bumthang is the latest dzongkhag to implement the circular. During the recent dzongkhag tshogdu, the people occupying the government land illegally have been asked to move out, latest by December 31, this year.
There are around 400 cases of illegal government land encroachment in Bumthang. The number includes 40 houses that have been illegally constructed on government land.
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Samten Pelden, 40, has been asked to vacate her house. However, she says her case is different. She said enough documents to prove that she was allowed construction as substitution for her land in Ura, which was given away for the road construction.
Similarly, Kinzang Lhamo, who has constructed two-storied house in Terso village in Chhumig, said she got verbal permission from the Gup to construct her house. She spent over Nu.1.3 MN to construct the house. “The only option now would be to go back to the village.”
The Land Record Officer of Bumthang, Yandu Tshering, said such illegal activities, if not monitored well, would encourage more such cases in the future.
“Any form of illegal encroachment, be it fencing, cultivation or house construction and whether used for residential or commercial purpose will have to be sorted out by end of December.”
