Nepal Government Removes People from River Banks
Nepal Government Removes People from River Banks
Introduction
On April 25, 2025, the government of Nepal started to remove houses near rivers in Kathmandu. The leader, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, tried to do this before. This time, no one was hurt. But people have different feelings about it.
Main Body
The government tried to remove houses before, in 2022. Then, people fought and 36 people got hurt. Now, the Prime Minister has more power. Police help with the removal. The removal started early in the morning on April 25. Police told people to leave by the evening before. First, they remove houses in three areas. Police say they help people who have no other place to go. The removal was quiet. People moved their things in small trucks. The Prime Minister said this is good for the city. It helps stop floods and clean the rivers. He said the government will find real poor people and give them land. This is part of a big plan to help landless people in 1000 days. Some people like the removal. They are afraid of floods. Some people do not like it. An old woman lived there for 30 years and does not know where to go. Human rights groups say this is not fair. They say the government must check first and give new homes.
Conclusion
The removal will continue. The government says it will give land to some people. Human rights groups are watching.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
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.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Nepal Government Initiates Eviction of Riverside Squatters in Kathmandu Valley Amid Contrasting Assessments
Introduction
On April 25, 2025, the government of Nepal, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, commenced the demolition of informal settlements along the riverbanks of Kathmandu Valley. The operation, which had been attempted previously during Shah's tenure as mayor, proceeded without reported incidents but has elicited divergent reactions from residents and human rights organizations.
Main Body
The eviction drive follows a prior attempt on November 28, 2022, when Shah, then mayor of Kathmandu, sought to clear the Thapathali settlement. That effort resulted in a violent confrontation that left 36 individuals injured, including the municipal police chief. Shah subsequently sought support from multiple home ministers but failed to secure sufficient cooperation from the federal government. The current operation, now undertaken with the authority of the prime minister, involves coordination among the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force. The demolition began in the early hours of April 25, with residents having been instructed to vacate 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 assistance to residents lacking alternative accommodation. The eviction proceeded peacefully, with residents transporting belongings via 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 differentiate between genuine squatters and encroachers, and pledged to distribute land to eligible families. Shah also noted that the relocation would improve Kathmandu's drainage system and address the pollution of rivers. He characterized the initiative as part of a long-term solution to a recurring problem, referencing annual flood risks that force residents to flee. The eviction is aligned with a 100-point roadmap 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 proper investigation to distinguish genuine squatters from those who own property elsewhere. Another resident, Dambar Bahadur Tamang, deemed the decision acceptable, citing the fear of floods. Conversely, Puspa Kaasai, a 65-year-old who had lived in the area for three decades, expressed uncertainty about her living situation, stating that she did not know where to go. The eviction has thus generated a spectrum of responses, from approval to anxiety. The National Human Rights Commission wrote to the government seeking an update on the implementation of its previous recommendations to identify genuine squatters and arrange alternative housing. Amnesty International issued a statement characterizing the forced eviction as reflecting a dangerous erosion of the rule of law and an increasingly authoritarian approach. The organization warned that evicting families without prior verification, meaningful consultation, or assurance of alternative housing risked transforming 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 conducted 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 adhering to legal and judicial standards.
Conclusion
The eviction drive, which is expected to continue in the coming days, has proceeded without incident but remains a subject of debate. The government has pledged to follow up with identification and land distribution, while human rights organizations continue to monitor the process.