Nepal PM: Eviction drive aims to secure housing rights, not displace squatters

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has clarified the government's stance on the recent eviction drives targeting informal settlements, emphasizing that the actions are fundamentally about securing housing rights and establishing lasting solutions, rather than displacing citizens.

Speaking out amidst growing criticism and backlash, Shah took to Facebook to address public concerns. He asserted that the government is diligently working to resolve issues of encroachment along riverbanks and public land in accordance with the law. To overcome previous legal impediments, certain provisions of the Land Act, 1964, have been amended through an ordinance, paving the way for more sustainable solutions.

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All steps taken are not to remove citizens, but to ensure housing rights and resolve the problem permanently.

The intensified eviction drives across the Kathmandu Valley have understandably drawn criticism due to the lack of immediate resettlement plans for those affected. However, the government is initiating a transparent process involving digital data collection and verification to identify genuine landless individuals. Those residing in unsafe locations will be moved to safer areas, while decisions for other landless groups will be guided by recommendations from the relevant commission.

"All steps taken are not to remove citizens, but to ensure housing rights and resolve the problem permanently," Shah stated, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information and panic. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring safe, dignified, and permanent housing for all, assuring that "No citizen will be left homeless."

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No citizen will be left homeless.