Campaign to demolish illegally built structures goes nationwide

KATHMANDU: The government has launched a nationwide campaign to demolish illegally built structures on government and public land.

In the first phase, authorities began removing encroached houses, shacks and other structures from high-risk areas across the Kathmandu Valley on Saturday. Illegal structures built along riverbanks were cleared on Saturday in Thapathali, Sinamangal-Gairigaun and Shantinagar in Kathmandu.

On Sunday, government teams continued demolition operations along the banks of the Manohara River.

Januka Dhakal, Development Commissioner at the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), said settlements in high-risk zones would be removed in the initial phase, while the second phase would focus on identifying landless families and arranging appropriate resettlement.

According to the KVDA, it is collecting preliminary details of families displaced during the eviction drive and making arrangements for their accommodation.

Authorities have begun clearing vulnerable settlements in Gothatar Buddhachowk of Ward No. 8 and Manohara Tol of Ward No. 9 in Kageshwori Manohara Municipality. Security personnel are assisting residents in removing and transporting their belongings before the demolition of physical structures.

According to the KVDA, 214 families have so far come into contact with the government during the eviction process. Temporary accommodation and meals have been arranged for them at various hotels and lodges.

Under the campaign, illegal structures are also being removed in several other parts of the country, including Rupandehi, Nuwakot and Parsa. In Rupandehi, structures built on encroached government land in Ward No. 4 of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City were demolished on Sunday. The sub-metropolitan city had issued a public notice on Saturday, urging occupants to remove the structures voluntarily.

Similarly, the Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project Office demolished a dozen government structures and 86 private structures built on encroached public land at various locations in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot.

In Parsa, the Narayani Irrigation and Management Office removed houses, sheds and other structures built illegally along the embankment of the Gandak Canal.

Sunil Kumar Karn, chief of the Administration and Management Division at Birgunj Metropolitan City, said the demolition drive was carried out in coordination with the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and other agencies.

(RSS)