Served with eviction notices, Nam Nang squatters appeal for regularization or alternate sites

GANGTOK, 01 July: Sixteen families living in temporary sheds and huts in land situated below the State Legislative Assembly here in Nam Nang have now decided to approach the Chief Minister to place their grievances and problems. They have urged the government to make some arrangements to either regularize their present settlement or make alternative arrangements for their welfare. 
Speaking to media-persons this morning, they informed that the families of Jasoda Gurung and Phurba Lama, who is a retired gardener of the Forest Department, have been living on this land, which belongs to the Forest Department, since 1961. They added that later the families started to spread and at present the land has 16 families, most of whose members work as daily wage labourers.
On 29 May, the families received a notice from a private party claiming to be the owner of this land to vacate the premises within one month. Following this, some people have been regularly visiting them with threats to run bulldozers over their huts, the families allege.
They informed that earlier as well, in the year 2000 and then later in 2010, they had received similar notices from the Forest Department to vacate the land, so now they are at a loss as to who actual owns the land.
However, it is informed, that these families also approached the landlady who served the latest notice and submitted a petition to her on 31 May, but she refused to back down and asked them to immediately vacate the said land. It is informed that they have been trying to meet the Chief Minister regarding this but have not been able to do so as yet.
They informed that they had also asked their area MLA to get them an appointment with the CM to which Mr Pradhan had said it would be difficult but had assured to make some arrangements for them.
The families stated that they are not in a condition to leave their houses and cannot afford other rented accommodation either. “Most of the time, the houses are occupied by the elderly and children as others go out on work so we are scared about bulldozers running over our houses”, they expressed. Further stating that they are supporters of the ruling party the families expressed hope that the CM would sort out their problem.