751 encroached homes removed in Banke, hundreds relocated to shelter
Many residents reportedly salvaged their belongings, including doors, windows, and household materials, before the structures were cleared.
KATHMANDU: Authorities in western Nepal have demolished 751 makeshift homes built on public and government land in Kohalpur Municipality, leaving hundreds of families displaced and currently sheltering in a temporary holding center.
The demolition drive, carried out over four days in Ward No. 11 near a local cricket ground, targeted settlements that municipal officials say had encroached on public property.
Many residents reportedly salvaged their belongings, including doors, windows, and household materials, before the structures were cleared.
Municipal Chief Full Prasad Acharya said the action was not taken lightly, adding that efforts were made to provide initial relief, including food packages and basic support.
However, distribution challenges led the municipality to suspend planned aid packages and issue a formal notice instead. Officials said records have been collected for 102 households identified so far.
“We will try to arrange land for genuine squatters. If that is not possible, we will provide livelihood support allowances under a formal procedure,” Acharya said.
Following the eviction, affected families have been relocated to a temporary holding center at the Kohalpur new bus park building.
The facility currently hosts 279 people, including around 60 children. Residents have been organized across three floors based on family groups.
Many displaced families—mostly from Dalit and Madhesi communities and engaged in daily wage labor—report growing hardship as food supplies run low. “We don’t know how long we will have to stay here,” said Prem BK, one of the residents, adding that uncertainty about the future is increasing anxiety among families.
Some women in the shelter raised concerns over privacy and discomfort due to shared living spaces for men and women.
Others urged authorities to ensure immediate food and basic necessities, warning of an emerging humanitarian strain.
Human rights and legal advocacy groups have also visited the site to assess conditions.
A monitoring team led by senior advocate Sunil Kumar Shrestha met municipal officials and representatives from the Land Problem Resolution Commission in Banke to gather information on the eviction and shelter arrangements.
Meanwhile, officials note that more than 53,700 families in Banke district are still listed as landless or squatters.
