Valendra Shah: Protests Against Plan to Evict Squatter Settlements in Kathmandu, How Will Displaced Residents Be Managed?
Photo Source, Nepal Photo Library
The government is preparing to clear squatter settlements in three locations of Kathmandu, with officials planning to temporarily relocate residents to three designated sites.
A team formed by security personnel and the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police conducted public announcements via loudspeakers in the Thapathali, Manhara, and Sinamangal squatter settlements until Friday evening, urging residents to vacate their homes.
Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Chief Vishnu Prasad Joshi stated this operation was conducted in accordance with a circular issued by the District Administration Office. Plans are underway to accommodate evicted individuals in locations such as various party halls.
However, a land rights activist warned that forcible relocation by the government without consultations could provoke resistance from the community.
Prime Minister Valendra Shah, popularly known as ‘Balen,’ had previously unveiled a 100-point plan which includes a phased approach to allocate land or integrated resettlement arrangements for landless squatters and those living in unplanned settlements.
Dipaa Dahal, press and research specialist at the Prime Minister’s Office, emphasized that the government is taking this step with adequate preparation, aiming to differentiate between genuine and fraudulent squatters to ensure proper management of actual landless residents.
Public Announcements and Warnings Around Squatter Settlements
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shah directed heads of security agencies to clear structures encroaching on riverbanks, including public, government, and leased lands.
To implement these directives, the Kathmandu District Administration Office issued a six-point notice. Security forces and metropolitan police teams announced these notifications via loudspeakers in three squatter settlements across the capital on Thursday and Friday.
The notice stated that illegal residences must be vacated by 7 p.m. on Friday, with demolition operations commencing at 6 a.m. on Saturday to completely clear the encroached land.
It warned that anyone obstructing the process would face strict legal action. Those removed from the sites are to be relocated to various government-designated settlements equipped with basic minimum facilities.
Photo Source, Nepal Photo Library
In an interview, Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Chief Vishnu Prasad Joshi noted that public announcements were made in the three squatter areas, with some families already vacating their residences and others registering for temporary housing.
“The government is considering accommodating these individuals in various party halls. A final decision is expected by this afternoon,” he said.
According to officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs, decisions regarding the management of displaced persons will be made in a meeting scheduled for the afternoon at the Ministry of Urban Development.
The government stated that houses constructed without authorization on riverbank public, government, and leased lands have obstructed public access and essential infrastructure, prompting the order for clearance.
It also warned that defiance of maps and laws would result in coordinated enforcement and demolition operations by local administration, police, and the metropolitan municipality.
Activists’ Protests
Photo Source, Bhagwati Adhikari
Last month, a protest was held in Kathmandu opposing the campaign led by Prime Minister Shah to evict squatter settlements.
Land rights activist Bhagwati Adhikari told the crowd that the government advanced this initiative without community consultation and vowed to resist the move.
“In our assessment, the government is not responsible. We are protesting peacefully against this decision. Should bulldozers arrive tomorrow, it could lead to resistance and counter-actions,” she warned.
She also said the government made these decisions without discussion with the community and that a formal complaint was filed with the National Independent Party.
“The issue of where to relocate residents must be clearly addressed, involving coordination with local bodies and the community. A unilateral decision is unacceptable. We are engaging with leaders of the National Independent Party to convey our concerns.”
She added that efforts are ongoing to maintain regular contact with the party’s members of parliament representing the area.
Claims of Legal Violations
Human rights organization Amnesty International expressed concern that this move could render hundreds of families homeless.
Neerajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal, stated in a press release that the government’s attempt to vacate squatter settlements within two days contravenes both domestic and international laws.
He termed this decision as a preparation for “forced eviction.”
The National Independent Party’s electoral manifesto promises to establish a high-level National Land Rights Authority empowered to distinguish genuine landless and fake squatters through satellite mapping and digital biometric verification.
It commits to constructing integrated, facility-equipped model settlements to provide permanent housing and land ownership (land title certificates) for genuine landless people.
Prime Minister’s Office Response
Photo Source, EPA
Dipaa Dahal, press and research advisor to Prime Minister Valendra Shah, reiterated that the government took the decision with thorough preparation.
“The government has acted with restraint and security. Genuine and fake squatters will be identified, and real landless persons will be appropriately managed,” she affirmed.
The District Administration Office notice mentions preparations to provide adequate housing for the landless within 10–15 days.
Officials noted that the Ministry of Urban Development is managing temporary housing arrangements immediately, while the Ministry of Land Reform will oversee the management of actual landless people after cost recovery.
According to previous reports by the Land Problem Resolution Commission, over 2,500 landless squatter households reside in the Kathmandu Valley, including temporary settlements.
Land rights activists claim there may be approximately 5,000 landless squatter and temporary households in Kathmandu. Government officials suspect that many may actually have land and that further investigation is necessary.
When Shah was previously mayor of Kathmandu, he attempted to clear squatter settlements along riverbanks; this led to clashes in Thapathali, with then-Prime Minister KP Oli expressing opposition.
After attaining power, Shah pledged to digitally document squatters and irregular settlers within 60 days and resolve the landless squatter issue within 1,000 days.
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