KATHMANDU, MAY 1
The government has begun relocating high-risk settlements along the Bagmati River and its tributaries in the Kathmandu Valley from Friday under the second phase of its evacuation drive.
Minister for Urban Development Sunil Lamsal said the second phase follows the completion of relocation efforts in Thapathali, Sinamangal-Gairigaun, Shantinagar and Manohara areas.
To facilitate the process, residents from vulnerable settlements are being transported by bus to a primary registration centre at Dasharath Stadium.
Three help desks have been set up at the venue for data collection, self-declaration for identification of landless people, and digital verification by a team from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the Ministry, security agencies will assist in storing and safeguarding belongings that cannot be immediately transported, while transport arrangements have been made to shift families unable to manage relocation on their own to designated holding centres.
Authorities have also arranged immediate health services, humanitarian assistance and psychosocial counselling at both registration centres and holding sites.
Based on collected data, genuine landless families will be identified and verified. Those verified will receive necessary support for a certain period, followed by further rehabilitation processes, while individuals failing verification will be returned from holding centres.
The Ministry said individuals involved in illegal activities or those who had encroached riverbanks for rental or commercial purposes will be investigated and face legal action if found guilty.
Earlier, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu had issued a public notice urging residents to vacate encroached land along riverbanks and other public or private properties by Thursday evening, warning that clearance would begin from Friday morning in disaster-prone areas.
