KATHMANDU: The government has clarified that it will proceed with clearing encroached public and government land only after identifying genuine squatters and ensuring their safe and dignified resettlement.
Amid growing concerns among landless communities, authorities have urged genuine squatters not to panic, assuring that their rights and security will be protected during the process.
The government launched a special campaign from April 25 targeting high-risk settlements along the Bagmati River and its tributaries in the Kathmandu Valley, where floods and inundation occur annually during the monsoon.
Prioritizing protection of life and property, the government has already cleared vulnerable settlements in areas such as Thapathali, Shantinagar, Gairigaun, and parts of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality including Gothatar and Manohara Tole.
Minister for Urban Development Sunil Lamsal said the evacuations were carried out solely from a humanitarian perspective, considering the high flood risks during the rainy season.
He added that in remaining areas, eviction will not proceed until a clear framework for identification and proper management of squatters is finalized.
The campaign is based on a policy decision under the government’s “100-point governance reform agenda,” which includes provisions for protecting public land, maintaining digital records, and preventing further encroachment.
In line with this, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has directed all local governments to identify squatters and develop concrete resettlement plans.
Under the Local Government Operation Act 2017, local bodies are primarily responsible for protecting public property within their jurisdictions.
The ministry has emphasized that resettlement must ensure basic human rights, including safe housing, healthcare access, nutritious food, privacy, and facilities that are women- and disability-friendly.
Minister for Federal Affairs Pratibha Rawal said the government remains committed to clearing public land only after proper identification and management of squatters, stressing the need for a sensitive and responsible approach by local authorities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs Nepal has also issued instructions to District Administration Offices, stating that local governments must first prepare identification and management plans and inform affected communities in advance before any eviction.
Security arrangements will be provided by district authorities only upon request from local governments, based on their plans.
Prime Minister Balen Shah’s press and research advisor Deepa Dahal said the government is working in a balanced and humane manner to both protect public property and ensure dignified rehabilitation of genuine squatters.
“Those genuinely living on public land need not worry. The government is working in a planned way to ensure their safe and respectful resettlement,” she said.
Comment