KATHMANDU: Protests by landless squatters and informal settlers have intensified across Nepal following government notices ordering the clearance of settlements built on public land.
Demonstrations were reported on Tuesday in Kohalpur of Banke, Gulariya of Bardiya, and Jhapa, where protesters chanted slogans such as “Stop bulldozer terror” after authorities moved forward with plans to demolish their homes.
Similar protests had erupted on Monday in cities including Pokhara, Hetauda, Ghorahi, and parts of Bardiya, signaling a widening wave of unrest against the eviction drive.
The protests come after both federal and local governments issued notices directing residents living on public land to vacate their homes. In Kathmandu Valley alone, thousands of squatter and informal settler households have already been displaced after demolitions were carried out in dozens of locations.
The evictions have left a large number of families without shelter, prompting growing anger and resistance in multiple districts. Following directives from the federal government, several local governments have also issued similar notices, further fueling tensions on the ground.
As the demonstrations expand, concerns are mounting over the humanitarian impact of the evictions and the government’s approach to managing displaced populations.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, however, has said that no citizen will be left homeless, even as the government continues its clearance campaign.
Comment