Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has finally succeeded in clearing long-standing unmanaged settlements along the riverbanks, following sustained efforts over the years.
According to Metropolitan Police Chief Bishnu Prasad Joshi, the eviction drive, launched on Thursday morning after extensive preparation and coordination, was carried out peacefully.
The metropolis had issued a three-day prior notice (on the 22nd, 23rd, and April 24th) through public announcements, urging residents to vacate the area by 7:00 pm on April 24. The demolition began at 6:30 am the following day.
Unlike previous attempts that triggered clashes, protests, and unrest, this operation proceeded without disruption. Joshi attributed the success to strong coordination between the central government and local authorities.
“Times change, and situations do not remain the same. With clear direction from the Prime Minister and active involvement of all concerned agencies, we were able to carry out the operation smoothly this time,” he said, noting that earlier efforts had been hindered by a lack of coordination.
To support displaced individuals, the metropolis arranged a holding center at Radha Swami Satsang in Sundarighat, Kirtipur, with the capacity to accommodate up to 3,000 people. While some individuals were taken to hospitals and others were encouraged to move to shelters, many declined.
Joshi added that most residents were not genuinely homeless, stating, “Many who claimed to be landless were seen returning to their own homes from the site.”
The metropolis now plans to transform the cleared riverbank into a green, organized public space, including parks and recreational areas. Efforts to develop a UN Park in the area had long been stalled due to the informal settlements. Authorities say development work, modeled after the park on the Lalitpur side, will begin within days.
Describing the prolonged occupation of public land under the guise of landlessness as “organized encroachment,” Joshi claimed that residents have now realized that illegal settlement will no longer be tolerated, which contributed to the absence of resistance during the latest operation.
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