KATHMANDU: More than two months after the government launched a large-scale eviction campaign targeting settlements along riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley, thousands of displaced residents are still waiting for permanent resettlement despite earlier assurances of swift rehabilitation.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah had long advocated the removal of settlements built on public land along rivers. While a similar campaign during his tenure as Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor faced stiff resistance and ultimately failed, the issue resurfaced after he assumed the premiership in March.
Acting on a notice issued by the Kathmandu District Administration Office, authorities began clearing settlements along riverbanks from April 25, ordering residents to vacate by April 24 and promising arrangements for genuine landless families within 10 to 15 days.
The operation started from the Manohara riverbank settlement in Thapathali and gradually expanded to other areas across the Valley.
According to government data, 19 settlements have so far been cleared, resulting in the demolition of 2,687 houses and shelters and the displacement of 15,316 people. The displaced include 6,858 men, 5,325 women, 1,437 boys, and 1,696 girls.
Many of those affected were temporarily relocated to holding centres and shelters in Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Ichangu Narayan and Balaju. However, with permanent rehabilitation yet to materialise, some families have already left the shelters due to unemployment, family separation, health concerns and difficulties accessing schools for their children.
Muna Khanal, who lived in the Manohara settlement for more than two decades before being displaced, said she was more concerned about access to healthcare and shelter than land ownership.
Similarly, 65-year-old Bimala Maharjan, who had lived in the settlement for nearly 40 years, said she continues to stay at a government-arranged shelter but struggles with separation from her family members, who have moved elsewhere for work.
The issue has also been raised in Parliament, where Prime Minister Shah defended the government’s approach, saying the process would take time and should not be rushed.
The government has assigned responsibility for long-term rehabilitation to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, with support from the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority and the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee.
As part of the process, the government dissolved the previous Land Commission and formed a new Land Problem Resolution Committee led by Survey Department Director General Sushil Dangol. Similar committees have also been established at the district level under the leadership of chief district officers.
According to the ministry, authorities are currently collecting and verifying data on displaced families. Once verification is completed, genuine landless households will be identified and provided land ownership certificates under newly approved guidelines.
Officials say the process will build on previous land commission efforts while introducing stricter verification standards to ensure that only eligible landless families receive permanent settlement rights.
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