Tensions rise as Kathmandu government moves to clear Bagmati riverbank settlements

Kathmandu. The government's plan to remove squatter settlements along the Bagmati River has sparked fear among residents. Squatters who have lived in the area for decades have expressed outrage, claiming they are being evicted without proper alternatives.

Suntali Rai, a resident of the settlement, voiced her frustration over the potential loss of her home: 'When our family members are sick, they cannot get treatment, and now they are trying to take away our shelter. We poor people have nowhere else to go.' She moved to Kathmandu from Nuwakot 20 years ago and currently lives there with her five children.

Similarly, 58-year-old Sambar Singh Praja accused the government of double standards. Having moved from Dhading 20 years ago, he said, 'We voted for Balendra Shah hoping that new and young leadership would understand our plight. But today, he is the one trying to drive us out.'

Another resident questioned why they, as Nepali citizens, are forced to be homeless in their own country while refugees receive shelter. He shared the pain of becoming a squatter after his ancestral property was swept away by floods.

Other residents noted that rising costs make it impossible to rent rooms in Kathmandu. 'They ask for 8,000 to 10,000 rupees for a single room; where are we, as daily wage laborers, supposed to get that money?' another woman asked. They claimed the area was once a dumping ground that they cleaned and made habitable.

The squatters stated they are not against development but demand that the government guarantee food and shelter before eviction.

'If they are going to remove us, they must show us where to go,' they said. They have also warned of strong protests if the government attempts to clear the settlement without proper management.

Meanwhile, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has decided to demolish squatter huts in three locations in Kathmandu starting from the morning of वैशाख १२ गते.

On Thursday, Kathmandu's Chief District Officer Ishwor Raj Paudel discussed the matter in a District Security Committee meeting. Earlier today, security agencies also used public announcements to order the evacuation of the squatter settlements.