Squatters Displaced Five Months Ago Face Uncertain Future
Summary
Families displaced from Kathmandu’s riverbank settlements five months ago remain in temporary holding centers with no clear plan for permanent resettlement. Promised monthly relief has stalled, and officials are still verifying who is truly landless before land allotment can begin.
Key Points
- Hundreds of families were displaced when riverbank settlements along the Bagmati and other corridors in Kathmandu were demolished on April 12 under direct instruction from Prime Minister Balen.
- The government promised Rs 25,000 in initial support and Rs 15,000 per month in relief, but the monthly assistance has not been distributed because of budget and technical issues.
- Land verification is still underway for displaced families, with officials checking who has land elsewhere and identifying those who are completely landless.
- Three holding centers in Bode, Kharipati and Ichangu are still housing 108 families, who continue to face uncertainty and difficult living conditions.
