Nepal razes 2,000 illegal buildings in massive Kathmandu drive

Continuing its demolition drive, the Nepal government on Saturday razed hundreds of illegal structures along riverbanks in parts of Kathmandu Valley, while the opposition urged the authorities to be sensitive to the affected people.

So far, 2,000 squatter settlements, including concrete buildings built on riverbanks, public and government land, have been demolished. The demolition of illegal structures was carried out in Swoyambhu, Balaju and Dhovikhola areas of Kathmandu. Thousands of security personnel were deployed for the drive.

On Friday, illegal structures built at Teku and Balkhu were demolished, while last week, the authorities bulldozed structures at Thapathali, Gairigaun and Manohara areas of the capital. The government has come under severe criticism from the opposition for not showing sensitivity and giving adequate time for the landless squatters to remove their belongings.

Parliament member and Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC said that although the government campaign was necessary for the beautification of the urban areas and environmental protection, its implementation has come under scrutiny from a humanitarian, legal and social perspective.

“The biggest question is displacement without alternatives,” he said.