Government Launches Nationwide Campaign to Remove Illegal Structures on Public Land

Kathmandu. A campaign has been launched across the country, including the Kathmandu Valley, to remove structures illegally built on government and public land. The government began the first phase on Saturday by clearing encroached houses and huts in various high-risk areas of the Kathmandu Valley.

On Saturday, illegal structures along the riverbanks in Thapathali, Sinamangal-Gairigaun, and Shantinagar in Kathmandu were removed. Similarly, today, with the support of security agencies including the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, Nepal, a government team is clearing encroached structures along the banks of the Manohara River.

Januka Dhakal, Development Commissioner of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, stated that in the initial phase, settlements in high-risk areas will be removed, and in the second phase, landless individuals will be identified and provided with proper housing arrangements. The authority stated that preliminary details of citizens left homeless during the clearing of encroached land are being collected, and arrangements for their accommodation are being made.

The process of clearing high-risk settlements has begun at Gothatar Buddhachowk in Kageshwori Manohara Municipality-8 and Manohara Tole in Ward No. 9. Security personnel are assisting citizens in removing and transporting their belongings before the physical structures in the settlements are demolished.

The authority reported that 214 families have come into contact with the government so far during the clearing of the encroached settlements. Those who have come forward have been provided with temporary accommodation and food in various hotels.

Under this campaign, illegal structures are being rapidly removed in various parts of the country, including Rupandehi, Nuwakot, and Parsa, in addition to the Kathmandu Valley. Today, houses and huts built by encroaching on government land in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-4, Rupandehi, were removed. The Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City had issued a notice on Saturday requesting that structures built on government land be removed voluntarily.

Also today, the 'Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project Office' removed a dozen government and 86 private structures built by occupying government land in various locations of Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot.

Similarly, the Narayani Irrigation and Management Office removed houses, huts, and other structures built by encroaching on the banks of the Gandak Canal in Parsa today. Sunil Kumar Karna, Chief of the Administration and Management Division of Birgunj Metropolitan City, informed that the work of removing illegally constructed structures was carried out in coordination with security agencies, including the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force.

Inspection of Manohara Area by Inspector General of Police

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki observed the work of clearing the encroached settlements along the Manohara River. According to the Police Headquarters, he inquired about the proper management and relocation of landless citizens to safe places.

During the clearing of the settlements on Saturday, there was a minor clash with the police on the banks of the Manohara River. In that incident, 22 security personnel were injured due to attacks by locals. Today, however, the process of clearing the settlements is proceeding peacefully as of the time this news was prepared.

Human Rights Alliance Urges Meaningful Dialogue

The Human Rights Alliance has stated that removing squatters and landless people without alternative arrangements is not appropriate from a humanitarian and human rights perspective. A statement issued by the organization's president, Bidur Subedi, mentions that the fear, insecurity, and uncertainty seen in the families removed from the settlements will weaken the trust between the state and the citizens.

The Alliance has urged the government to initiate an open, trusting, and meaningful dialogue with the affected communities and to avoid forced displacement.