KATHMANDU, JANUARY 4
On December 4, Wednesday, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office implemented an eviction plan for the Bagmati Corridor squatter settlements. The action met with resistance from the residents of these communities and sparked a debate among intellectuals about the morality of the actions taken by both sides. While there is consensus that the long-standing squatter settlements need to be correctly rehabilitated and removed from the Bagmati Corridor, the main question remains: how can this be done fairly and equitably?
The urban population has increased significantly compared to the rural areas. Projections indicate that the population will continue to grow until around 2050. The inability of governments to keep up with the rapid pace of urbanisation and provide affordable housing has increased slums and squatter settlements.
When asked how squatters see themselves, many representatives of squatter settlements stated that they do not "capture the land, but they save the land". They described that if the squatters had not been there, the private sector would have bought the public land.
The general public often perceives squatters negatively, particularly in developing countries like Nepal, where land is valuable. There is also a perception that many squatters are wealthy and own land in their villages. However, it is essential to remember that these perceptions are only sometimes accurate and do not represent all squatters. It is also necessary to recognise that the voices of strong community figures may be louder and more visible in the media while silencing the voices of real squatters due to their perceived weakness.
The government may view squatter settlements as illegal because they build their shelters on land owned by the government without proper legal documentation or permits. By taking the stance that squatter settlements are illegal and not taking responsibility for their residents, the government sends a message that these communities are not valued and do not deserve support. This attitude only serves to widen the gap between the government and the landless, making it more difficult to find solutions for rehabilitating these settlements.
The proximity to income-earning opportunities in the city is often a crucial issue for the urban poor. Squatters build their shelters on public land and other environmentally-sensitive areas like riverbanks or flood plains, steep slopes and vacant spaces under high-voltage electrical transmission lines. To gain access to land for housing, the urban poor usually sacrifices tenure security. Situations force them to illegally infringe on any vacant land (often ill-suited for accommodation).
Due to lack of affordable land, and housing, the migrant population squats. In Nepal, squatting can be done openly or covertly by individuals or groups. Squatters often use scavenged materials such as plastic and corrugated metal to construct shelters or reside in abandoned buildings. Several factors contribute to the rural exodus, including push factors such as caste segregation, social exclusion of widows and the Dalits, and uncertain economic conditions, as well as pull factors such as the availability of better jobs, healthcare, education and other amenities. This phenomenon has led to several problems, including the continuation of informal settlements, a widening gap between wealthy and impoverished individuals, a lack of tenure security and unsustainable land use patterns.
Even though it may seem that squatters occupy valuable land in the city centre, they still face several problems. The fundamental issues inherent in slums are health risks. The settlements are generally along the river, polluted, and at risk of flooding. Most use open-sky toilets or drains connected directly to the river. The residents have immediate impacts on health and the environment, namely infant mortality, diarrhea, and respiratory diseases.
Further, the squatter environment also faces cultural problems and social exclusion. Squatter populations rely primarily on daily wages and small businesses for their income. High unemployment often leaves people frustrated. These lead to domestic violence, including alcohol or drug abuse. These settlements' lack of shelter and privacy can lead to increased exposure to sexual violence. Regardless of its form, tenure is often registered in the name of men, leaving women dependent on their male relatives for tenure security. The quality of housing profoundly influences children's health, educational advancement, and general well-being. It can profoundly impact children's growth, including the right to education, health and personal security. The poverty alleviation strategy and the current housing development trend have failed to meet the housing needs of the urban poor living in slums and squatter settlements. The squatter settlements were established on the Bagmati river bank over a long time, and some have lived there for 20 years.
By disregarding the squatter settlements, the government is effectively disincentivising the development of these communities and making it more challenging to address the potential solutions. Instead, it would be more effective to adopt a more proactive and inclusive approach that seeks to understand the root causes of informal settlements and works to find solutions that benefit both the government and the landless.
Providing housing solutions that are affordable, safe and appropriate for the needs of squatter settlement residents can be an essential step in improving living conditions and reducing the risk of increment of squatters. Overall, addressing the challenges faced by squatter settlements in Kathmandu will require a combination of approaches, including providing basic infrastructure and services and regularising land tenure, among others.
Overall, addressing the challenges faced by squatter settlements in Kathmandu will require a combination of approaches, including providing basic infrastructure
A version of this article appears in the print on January 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
