Kathmandu, January 10
The Ministry of Home Affairs says it cannot remove landless squatters’ settlements from Kathmandu immediately.
In response to the Kathmandu metropolitan city‘s request to help it remove the landless squatters’ settlements from areas such as the Bagmati riverbank in Thapathali, the federal ministry says the plan to remove such settlements needs a broad discussion and coordination among stakeholders and preparations.
Whereas the ministry has not explicitly mentioned it cannot cooperate with the city government for the plan, it has explained that certain conditions should be met as per the plan before such a forceful move.
“The ministry will extend its positive support to the work of protecting public properties and areas on riverbanks as per the set standards,” the letter reads, “The ministry will completely support the metropolitan city’s initiatives for solving the overall problem after completing the set legal procedures, consultation and coordination with all sectors of stakeholders, and sufficient preparations.”
