Thapathali on the Move: Residents Scramble as PM Balen Orders Immediate Clearance of Riverbank Squatter Settlements
Prime Minister Balen Shah has directed security chiefs to clear the squatter settlements in the Thapathali area of Kathmandu. Following a meeting with high ranking police officials on Wednesday, the Prime Minister ordered that the settlements along the Bagmati riverbank be cleared by this coming Saturday and Sunday. However Minister of Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports Sasmit Pokharel said that the decision regarding this matter haven’t discussed in the cabinet meeting and there is no any decision made by the cabinet to clear the squatter settlements.
The directive was issued to Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki and Armed Police Force Inspector General Raju Aryal. The Prime Minister, who also oversees the Home Ministry, has instructed the security agencies to mobilize for the clearance of these unauthorized structures.
In response to the order, residents of the Thapathali squatter settlement have begun moving their belongings in a hurry. The Police force had inform the local residents of squatter settlements yesterday via miking. Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started internal discussions to coordinate the move. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol held a meeting with various ward chairpersons and the Metropolitan Police Chief to plan the process.
Officials have indicated that the focus is on clearing encroached public land to facilitate river beautification projects. To assist the residents, authorities are reportedly looking into temporary accommodation options, such as hotels and lodges, to house people while their belongings are being secured.
However, the move has sparked controversy, with some political leaders and activists criticizing the decision as "immature" and "inhumane" due to the lack of long term resettlement plans for the displaced families. This latest push follows several previous attempts by the KMC to clear the same area, which had faced strong resistance from the local residents.
