All local governments in Bardiya district have jointly issued a statement opposing the eviction of illegal settlements. Following the commencement of bulldozer operations in Kathmandu, the District Administration Office has directed the clearance of slum settlements starting from the 18th of Baishakh. The Land Problem Resolution Commission has reported the completion of data collection for 1,209,585 landless families.
Baishakh 16, Kathmandu: On Wednesday, all local bodies in Bardiya district released a joint statement warning against the eviction of settlements established illegally. On Baishakh 14, the Division Forest Office under Lumbini Province’s Ministry of Forests and Environment instructed the clearance of encroached forest areas. The joint statement issued by eight municipalities reads, “The notice published contrary to constitutional provisions will directly affect the housing rights of citizens who have been living in forest areas for a long time.”
Mayor Tej Bahadur Bhat of Madhuvan Municipality, a signatory of the statement, mentioned repeated appeals to protect the housing rights of landless people. Madhuvan Municipality is home to approximately 4,500 landless Dalit, slum-dwelling, and unplanned settlement families. “Many people have expressed concern following the start of bulldozer operations in Kathmandu, and their worried expressions are evident,” Mayor Bhat said.
This issue is not confined to Bardiya alone but is also prevalent in Devdaha Municipality of Rupandehi district. Devdaha issued a 15-day notice on Baishakh 14 warning of legal action if land is not vacated within the specified time. Mayor Dhruv Prasad Kharel of Devdaha stated that the terror caused by bulldozers from Kathmandu has raised continuous concerns among landless and unplanned settlement dwellers at his office. “We have tried to clarify that the notice issued by the District Administration Office is not meant for everyone residing there,” Kharel added.
In Kamala Bazaar, Ward No. 7, Ganeshman Charanath Municipality of Dhanusha in Madhesh Province, the Kamala Irrigation Office issued a notice threatening legal steps if slum dwellers do not vacate within 15 days. Similarly, Pokhara Metropolitan City issued an order on Baishakh 4 directing persons or families who have encroached on public land or without permission to vacate within 35 days. Following bulldozer operations in Kathmandu, the situation in Pokhara has also become tense.
The District Administration Office has announced bulldozer operations in all slum settlements of Kathmandu starting from Baishakh 18. Deputy Chief District Officer Muktiram Rizal stated that residents have been commanded to clear settlements by the evening of Baishakh 17.
Kumar Karki, Chairperson of the United National Squatters’ Front, expressed that the eviction of settlements in Kathmandu has spread fear throughout the country. According to him, families numbering 7 million without land certificates are living in grave apprehension. “Because settlements were removed through military deployment, we are suffering great psychological pain. It’s not only our homes but our spirits that are broken,” Karki said. “More than 7 million people across the country are distressed.”
According to the Land Problem Resolution Commission, data collection has been completed for 1,209,585 landless and unplanned families. The National Census 2078 reports an average family size of 4.37, which implies that these 1.2 million families comprise over 5.2 million individuals. The count excludes 86,400 families previously recorded by older commissions but whose processes remain incomplete. “Including those with incomplete records would bring the total to around 1.3 million families,” said Commission Chair Hari Prasad Rizal.
Chairperson Karki added that worries increased after learning that land surveys were conducted by military and police forces. He emphasized a preference for resolving issues through dialogue and that land reform must be implemented legally and constitutionally without force.
Local governments in Bardiya have also opposed the military’s circular. Their joint statement reads, “The request for updated details of slum settlements sent by the Nepal Army on Baishakh 12 appears to have been issued without following legal procedures.”
Following the bulldozer operations in Kathmandu, Commission member Govardhan Koli reported that landless individuals have expressed outrage both at district and central levels. Koli suggested the government take the issue seriously and seek long-term solutions.
There are constitutional and legal provisions to provide land to landless Dalits and squatters and to regularize unplanned settlements. Landless individuals must pay applicable fees for land acquisition, and unplanned settlers must pay a prescribed fee. The law considers lands with religious, cultural, strategic significance, rivers, canals, protected areas, forests, or disaster-prone zones, and land with registered ownership certificates as a “negative list.” The Commission demands that land be assigned in the place where these individuals currently live, except for those located in the negative list areas.
“Since it’s essential to provide land to all who complete the process, the best option is to assign land where people presently live, except those in the negative list,” Koli explained.
The Commission’s latest data shows 98,502 landless Dalits, 180,293 landless squatters, and 930,790 in unplanned settlements. The government has committed to complete data collection and verification within 60 days and to provide land to genuine landless families within 1,000 days. Commission Chair Rizal recommended completing all constitutional and legal procedures during implementation.
“Landless people across the country are currently fearful and anxious,” Rizal said. “The government should administer the process after completing all legal steps.”
United National Squatters’ Front Chair Karki urged authorities not to create confusion by showing only a few cases to the public while ignoring millions of actual squatters nationwide.
