Nepal, May 12 -- The Land Issue Resolving Commission (LIRC) has started collecting official data on squatters, landless individuals, and unmanaged settlers in Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Kathmandu Valley.

Commission Vice-Chairperson and Spokesperson Sant Kumar Karki said the LIRC had invited applications from landless Dalits and squatters in the valley last year, but local bodies, including Kathmandu Metropolitan City, did not cooperate, preventing the LIRC from obtaining accurate data.

He said the LIRC received applications from only about 2,000 families last year. "This data is insufficient. We are now collecting official records," he said.

He added that the LIRC plans to invite applications again this year from squatters, la...