KATHMANDU: Authorities have intensified a campaign to remove encroached settlements across Kathmandu, clearing three locations on Saturday and Sunday.
Settlements were removed from Thapathali along the banks of the Bagmati River in Ward No. 11, Gairigaun–Sinamangal in Ward No. 9, and Shantinagar in Ward No. 31 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Temporary and permanent structures built on government land were demolished using dozers, said Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force Chief Bishnu Prasad Joshi. He noted that work in Thapathali was completed quickly due to fewer permanent structures, while demolition in the Gairigaun–Sinamangal area continued late into the night because of a higher number of concrete houses.
A joint team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Kathmandu Metropolitan Police assisted in relocating residents and their belongings before the demolition began.
However, locals reported difficulties in movement as debris from the demolished structures remained scattered. The metropolis said cleanup and removal of materials would be carried out gradually.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, a total of 871 squatter families had been living in encroached areas across the capital, including 143 in Thapathali, 162 in Gairigaun, 77 in Gothatar, 476 in Shantinagar, and 13 in Manohara Tole.
The government has prioritized clearing public land and managing riverside areas, linking the campaign to urban beautification, environmental protection, and long-term urban planning. However, concerns have been raised regarding the rehabilitation and long-term settlement of displaced families, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions.
While no clashes were reported in Thapathali, Gairigaun, and Sinamangal, resistance occurred during a similar demolition drive in the Manohara River area in Bhaktapur on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the demolition of illegally constructed houses and huts in a squatter settlement along the banks of the Manohara River in Kathmandu is underway.
The operation started on Sunday morning with the deployment of Nepal Police personnel and Armed Police Force personnel from Bhaktapur, according to Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Khadka, Chief of the District Police Range, Bhaktapur.
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