Thapathali slum clearance 40% complete; evicted families set for relocation to Nagarjun

KATHMANDU: Authorities have begun the peaceful removal of informal settlements along the Bagmati riverbank in Thapathali, with around 40 percent of makeshift structures already dismantled, officials said on Saturday.

The operation is being jointly carried out by Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force Nepal, and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City police, without the use of force. Chief District Officer Ishwar Raj Paudel stated that residents have largely cooperated with the government’s campaign.

“There has been no need to use force to remove illegally constructed structures. Residents themselves are supporting the initiative,” Paudel said, adding that security personnel are assisting people in vacating their homes and relocating belongings.

Authorities had issued a notice two days earlier, urging landless settlers living in high-risk public areas to move their belongings and livestock to safer locations.

The operation includes the mobilization of security personnel, technical teams, bulldozer operators, ambulances, transport trucks, and vehicles to relocate affected residents to temporary holding centers. According to Paudel, many residents have managed their relocation independently, while those requiring assistance are being supported by the state.

Displaced families from Thapathali have been temporarily sheltered at Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwor, where their details are being recorded. Officials said verified landless households will later be relocated to designated temporary housing facilities arranged by the Ministry of Urban Development.

Security personnel are also providing humanitarian support, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses. Individuals in need of medical care have been referred to hospitals.

Authorities plan to continue similar clearance operations in Sinamangal, Gairigaun, and possibly the Manohara corridor, depending on time and conditions. Residents in the Manohara area have already begun vacating their homes.

The government has intensified its campaign to remove illegal settlements along riverbanks across the Kathmandu Valley, following directives to reclaim public land and reduce risk in vulnerable zones.

According to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the eviction drive will be conducted in two phases. The first phase targets settlements in Thapathali, Manohara, Sinamangal, and Gairigaun, while the second phase will focus on other remaining areas.

To manage displaced populations, authorities will initially place them in holding centers for identification and classification. Verified landless families will then be relocated to permanent or semi-permanent housing.

As part of this effort, the government plans to utilize apartment buildings constructed in Nagarjun Municipality during the tenure of former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in 2069. Built at a cost of Rs 120 million, the two housing blocks—comprising 224 units—have remained unused due to local opposition but are now expected to serve as resettlement facilities.

Officials say the renewed effort aims not only to clear encroachments but also to ensure a structured and humane rehabilitation process for genuine landless citizens.