'Old land records contradict Nepal claim, show key areas in Uttarakhand'

PITHORAGARH: Contrary to Nepal’s claims of Kalapani and Lipulekh being parts of its territory,

land records

in

Pithoragarh

show that according to the 1962-66 settlement, all lands of

Nabidhang

and Kalapani belong to

Garvayang village

of the district in Uttarakhand.

Speaking to TOI, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Dharchula AK Shukla said, “According to the land settlement conducted in Kumaon from 1962 to 1966, Kalapani, Nabidhang and Kuti were parts of then Uttar Pradesh (present Uttarakhand). The land records show that Nabidhang and Kalapani were part of Garvayang in Dharchula tehsil of Pithoragarh.”

Controversy over the land started after defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 78-km-long Ghatiyabagar Lipulekh road, popularly known as the Kailash-Mansarovar road, on May 8. Nepal released a new political map, claiming Kalapani and Lipulekh were parts of its territory and by building the road, India had encroached on it. Backing the claim, Nepal insisted that it collected revenue in these areas till 1961 and that residents here also participated in the 1959 general election of Nepal (parliamentary democracy had been established in the country that year for the first time, for a short period of time).

Shukla added that according to the land records, 4,500 to 5,000 agricultural plots as well as grazing land, forest land and

van panchayat

land belonged to Garvayang village. “Some of the land (in Garvayang) was initially allotted to a special task force constituted by Uttar Pradesh Police. Once it was dismantled, the land was transferred to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Kumaon Scouts,” the SDM said.

Krishna Garvyal

, a local resident, said, “Kalapani and Nabidhang always belonged to the Garvyals (natives of Garvayang) and were a part of India, as mentioned in the land records available with the Dharchula tehsil. Lands to the east of Kali river also belong to Garvyals but are part of Nepal’s territory. I am 35 now and as a child, used to go to these places with my parents to do agriculture work. We even have a small house in the area, which now lies deserted.”

Gopal Datt Ojha, a former MLA who represented Didihat, which constitutes Kalapani, Nabidhang and Gunji, said that people of these villages have been voting in assembly and central elections since 1952. Ojha was an MLA in 1967, 1969 and 1974. “Byas and Darma valleys have migratory settlements. So when elections were held in the summer, people would vote in the upper region of the valley and in the winter, they voted in the lower regions,” Ojha said.