Nepal Halts Evictions of Informal Settlers Pending Resettlement Plan

The government's clear stance on halting evictions of informal settlers until a comprehensive resettlement plan is in place offers a much-needed reprieve for vulnerable landless families. Minister Sunil Lamsal's assurance that identification and secure relocation arrangements will precede any action underscores a commitment to humane policy implementation.

This directive is particularly timely as the monsoon season approaches, with authorities having already undertaken crucial clearance operations in flood-risk zones along the Bagmati river and its tributaries within the Kathmandu Valley. Areas like Thapathali, Shantinagar, and Gairigaun have seen these operations, with a clear focus on safeguarding lives and property from annual flooding.

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The government will move ahead with clearing encroached public and government land only after identifying genuine landless families and ensuring their safe resettlement.

The emphasis on local governments taking the lead in identifying and managing informal settlers, as stipulated by the Local Government Operation Act, 2017, is a significant step. This approach ensures that municipalities are directly involved in preparing concrete plans for the safe management of affected residents, including advance notice and proper listing, thereby addressing previous concerns about uncoordinated eviction drives. The directive to district administration offices to provide security support only upon request from local governments further reinforces this decentralized and coordinated strategy.

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The government will move ahead with clearing encroached public and government land only after identifying genuine landless families and ensuring their safe resettlement.