Border Encroachment rife in Bara district, Nepal
Encroachment is rampant in those regions without border pillars. Many Indian civilians are living in the no man's land as farmers. Some people from the Nepal side have also settled in the no-man's-land along the bordering villages, including Kochorwa and Amritgunj.
Shivnath Sharma, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Industry, says both India and Nepal governments are to blame for the ongoing encroachment. “The two governments are not addressing the serious issue that can sour Nepal-India ties.” Encroachment went unabated as Maoistschased away security personnel from the villages during the insurgency, says Rambabu Kusawaha.
“With no one to patrol the border, people from across the border started occupying the no man’s land,” he says. Authorities, however, seem unaware of the situation that could spark conflict between the two countries.