Opinion | If demolition was urgent, so should be rehabilitation
Summary
Decades-old informal settlements along Kathmandu's riverbanks were rapidly demolished, but timely and dignified rehabilitation for displaced families remains urgently needed.
Key Points
- Many families have lived for decades in informal settlements along Kathmandu's riverbanks, transforming temporary shelters into permanent neighbourhoods.
- These settlements arose from complex socio-economic factors including insurgency-driven displacement and economic decline in local industries.
- Despite lacking formal legal titles, these communities operate within informal land economies and social contracts.
- The recent government demolition was swift, but rehabilitation plans for displaced families were insufficiently prepared, risking a repeat of underlying social issues.
