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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Fear of eviction grips Singhiya riverside squatters as Kathmandu drive echoes in Biratnagar

From Kathmandu Post · (6m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Residents of a large squatter settlement along the Singhiya river in Biratnagar, Nepal, fear eviction following demolitions in Kathmandu.
  • Over 2,000 families living in the settlement for decades are alarmed by the prospect of losing their homes, having previously been promised land ownership.
  • Squatters, many from marginalized communities, warn of resistance if authorities proceed with eviction without providing alternative housing.

The fear of eviction is palpable among the thousands of families residing along the Singhiya river in Biratnagar. Echoes of the demolitions carried out in Kathmandu along the Bagmati river have reached this settlement, sparking widespread anxiety. For decades, these families have called this riverbank home, transforming what was once forest into a community. They have endured struggles and invested their lives here, only to be met with the looming threat of bulldozers.

We keep thinking when the bulldozers will come and demolish our homes. We voted, expecting proper resettlement. Now they are talking about evicting us instead.

— Farok SheikhA resident of Paropakar Ghat, expressing fear and disillusionment over potential eviction.

Residents like Farok Sheikh and Lal Bahadur Khadka express deep disillusionment. Having voted for political parties with promises of land rights and proper resettlement, they now face the prospect of displacement by the very government they supported. This sentiment is particularly strong among the marginalized communities, including Dalits, who form a significant portion of the squatter population. The repeated promises of land ownership certificates by successive governments have turned into painful memories as eviction becomes the new reality.

If they want to remove us, they must first arrange another place for us. Otherwise, we will not move.

— Farok SheikhWarning of resistance if authorities proceed with eviction without providing alternatives.

Land rights activists highlight that this issue is not unique to Biratnagar, with thousands of squatter families across the city living on government land. The District Administration Office, Morang, is now undertaking a data collection process to identify "genuine and fake" squatters, with actions already initiated in some areas like Letang. However, the focus on identification and potential eviction, without a clear plan for resettlement, leaves the affected families in a state of uncertainty and fear. The local perspective here is one of betrayal and a desperate plea for humane solutions that prioritize the well-being of long-term residents.

We voted for established parties many times in the past. This time too, we voted for a new party expecting solutions. Now I am hearing that the same government we voted for is planning to evict us.

— Lal Bahadur KhadkaA resident expressing frustration with political parties and the government's approach to the squatting issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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