Thapathali squatters ready to leave the settlement

KATHMANDU: Squatters on the banks of the Bagmati River in Thapathali have stated that they are willing to leave their current location if an agreement to settle elsewhere is reached.

Suman Chaudhary, a squatter on the Bagmati riverbank for more than two decades, said he was willing to leave the Bagmati riverbank if the government provided with the alternative option of living elsewhere.

“Who would want to live here as squatters if there was another arrangement?” he asked. “If the government had made other arrangements, it would have been easier for us to leave this place.”

Along with him, Gopal Paudel, who has long lived in squatter settlements, agrees with Chaudhary. “I am not alone; most of the people in the slum are ready to leave, but where and how will they go without the system?” he wondered.

Birendra Thapaliya, the spokesperson for the Integrated Bagmati Civilization Development Committee, stated that they are researching the relocation of squatter settlements on the banks of the Bagmati River in Thapathali.

“Until recently, they (squatters) were not ready to leave the current location, but we have discovered that they are now ready to relocate,” he said. He also stated that discussions for this are ongoing.

“Discussions have progressed, but no conclusions have been reached as ministers for the relevant ministries have not been appointed,” he said. He stated that plans are being made for a ‘briefing’ once the new minister arrives.

The National Land Commission’s Vice Chair and Spokesperson, Narender Khadka, complained that there was no coordination with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the management of squatters along the Bagmati River.

‘The work of tax collection and verification has progressed at all local levels across the country. But the Kathmandu metropolis has not advanced the work,’ he said.

Two weeks ago, the metropolis had requested assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to remove the Thapathali squatter settlement.

However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has already replied that there will be no assistance until necessary discussions, coordination and prior preparations are made and the settlements cannot be removed by completely changing the process.

Naveen Manandhar, the spokesperson of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said that according to the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the city has not taken any immediate steps. He informed that the metropolis will proceed with the work of the metropolis only after a discussion with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Spokesman Manandhar said that the taxes of the Thapathali squatter settlement have been collected time and time again but the Land Commission has not completed the management work.

Thapaliya, the spokesperson of the Integrated Bagmati Civilization Development Committee’s spokesperson, the data collected five months ago does not address the issue of how many people are landless and unorganized.

He stated that the committee has gathered data on the households in order to determine how many people live in the settlement for internal purposes.

He stated that the committee is currently meeting and negotiating with representatives of squatters, the National Land Commission, and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.