Protest erupts in Butwal’s Motipur against eviction drive

KATHMANDU: Residents of the Motipur area in Butwal have taken to the streets, protesting against the government’s move to clear settlements using bulldozers following instructions to vacate land in the proposed industrial zone.

The protests intensified after authorities signaled preparations to remove structures in the Motipur Industrial Area, triggering anger among local residents.

Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans such as “stop bulldozer terror,” “being a squatter is not a choice, it is compulsion,” and “solve the squatter problem,” demanding that the eviction process be halted until proper resettlement arrangements are made.

Protesters said that while the government is moving ahead with demolition, it has failed to ensure a clear rehabilitation plan for affected families, calling the approach unjust and insensitive.

Local residents argued that forced removal without alternative housing or compensation would further deepen their vulnerability.

The demonstration comes amid a wider nationwide eviction campaign targeting encroached public land and informal settlements, which has sparked growing debate over balancing urban development with the rights and welfare of displaced communities.