Nepal Government Starts Eviction of Riverside Squatters in Kathmandu Valley Amid Mixed Reactions
Introduction
On April 25, 2025, the government of Nepal, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, started demolishing informal settlements along the riverbanks of Kathmandu Valley. The operation, which had been attempted before when Shah was mayor, went ahead without any reported incidents. However, it has caused different reactions from residents and human rights organizations.
Main Body
The eviction drive follows a previous attempt on November 28, 2022, when Shah, then mayor of Kathmandu, tried to clear the Thapathali settlement. That effort led to a violent clash that left 36 people injured, including the municipal police chief. Shah later asked several home ministers for support but did not get enough help from the federal government. The current operation, now carried out with the authority of the prime minister, involves coordination among the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force. The demolition began early on April 25, after residents were told to leave by the evening of April 24. The first phase targets settlements in Thapathali, Manohara, and the Sinamangal-Gairigaun areas. According to Bishnu Prasad Joshi, chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, the authorities are clearing illegal settlements from government land and have offered help to residents who have no other place to stay. The eviction was peaceful, and residents moved their belongings using small trucks. Prime Minister Shah defended the operation on social media, stating that the removal was necessary to relocate citizens from unorganized and flood-prone areas. He emphasized that the government would separate genuine squatters from encroachers and promised to give land to eligible families. Shah also noted that the relocation would improve Kathmandu's drainage system and address river pollution. He described the initiative as part of a long-term solution to a recurring problem, referring to annual flood risks that force residents to flee. The eviction is part of a 100-point plan that includes a nationwide digital survey and verification of landless squatters within 60 days, with resolution through relocation and land allocation within 1,000 days. Reactions among residents varied. Subhadra Karki, a Thapathali resident, expressed support for the drive but called for a proper investigation to distinguish genuine squatters from those who own property elsewhere. Another resident, Dambar Bahadur Tamang, said the decision was acceptable because of the fear of floods. In contrast, Puspa Kaasai, a 65-year-old who had lived in the area for three decades, said she did not know where to go. The eviction has thus created a range of responses, from approval to anxiety. The National Human Rights Commission wrote to the government asking for an update on the implementation of its previous recommendations to identify genuine squatters and arrange alternative housing. Amnesty International issued a statement criticizing the forced eviction, saying it reflects a dangerous weakening of the rule of law and an increasingly authoritarian approach. The organization warned that evicting families without prior verification, proper consultation, or assurance of alternative housing could turn a governance challenge into a preventable human rights crisis. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), acting in a supportive role, has committed to a humane approach. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol stated that the removal of structures would be carried out with full respect for human dignity, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, the sick, pregnant women, children, and persons with disabilities. She emphasized that the metropolis aims to ensure the process remains dispute-free, safe, and fair, while following legal and judicial standards.
Conclusion
The eviction drive, which is expected to continue in the coming days, has gone ahead without incident but is still being debated. The government has promised to follow up with identification and land distribution, while human rights organizations continue to monitor the process.