The local administration has initiated land acquisition process at Gotihawa, an archeological site believed to be the birthplace of Krakuchhanda Buddha. 

The District Administration Office, Kapilvastu, formed a committee under Chief District Officer (CDO) Bishnu Prasad Dhakal for the land acquisition as per the Land Acquisition Act 1977. CDO Dhakal said the land acquisition process had been started to expand and preserve the historically and archaeologically important Gotihawa. “We will evict the encroached land in the area by providing suitable compensation,” he added. 

About two bighas of land, registered in the name of the Department of Archaeology, has been encroached. Only 17 katthas of land has been protected in the area by making barbed fence. 

Tej Kumar Boudacharya, a Buddhist follower, said that an ancient well, along with other archaeological structures, was destroyed due to the encroachment. The administration should evict the encroached settlement at the earliest, he demanded. Some locals built houses illegally and tilling the land. 

According to archaeologists, Gotihawa is an important archeological and historical site. It is considered as a sacred place for Buddhists where Indian emperor Ashoka erected a pillar during his pilgrimage. The pillar is 10 feet high with its circumference ranging between 8 feet and 6 inch. The upper part of the pillar has been broken. 

According to Theravada Buddhist tradition, Krakuchhanda is the twenty-fifth of the twenty-ninth named Buddhas.

The committee appointed Himal Uprety, an archaeological officer at the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), to expedite the land acquisition process. Following a field inspection, Uprety has submitted his report to the local administration. “We prepared the report after holding talks with the local people,” said Uprety.   

According to CDO Dhakal, the land acquisition process begun after the LDT released Rs40 million budget for the purpose. “The acquisition has been delayed due to the second phase of local elections. It will gather momentum soon,” he added.