KATHMANDU, April 25: The government has decided to move forward with necessary procedures to relocate genuine squatters to safer locations.
A meeting held on Friday at the Ministry of Urban Development, chaired by Minister for Urban Development Sunil Lamsal, and attended by representatives of various agencies and stakeholders, decided that after public announcements (via loudspeakers) are made to vacate informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, residents will be transported to designated safe shelters.
The meeting also decided to carry out awareness and information campaigns in line with notices issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. It emphasized giving prior notice through loudspeaker announcements and ensuring settlements are vacated before any demolition of structures takes place.
According to the decision, necessary equipment and materials required for the removal, demolition, and clearance of illegal structures in squatter settlements on April 25 and 26 will be arranged promptly by the concerned agencies, as requested by the District Administration Office.
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The plan includes providing humanitarian assistance, transporting belongings, and prioritizing the rescue of vulnerable groups—including persons with disabilities, children, pregnant and postpartum women, senior citizens, and chronically ill individuals—ensuring they are safely taken to designated shelters or hospitals if needed.
The Ministry of Health and Population will arrange ambulances and medical teams, while transportation for moving people and their belongings will be managed in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
After relocating people to initial shelters, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City will arrange food, snacks, and drinking water, while the Health Ministry will ensure medical services at those sites.
From the initial shelters, people will be transferred to designated locations for short-term housing. The Ministry of Urban Development will manage the supply of essential daily items, including water, at those locations.
Each family in these managed settlements will be verified and issued photo identification cards. Individuals who fail to meet verification criteria will gradually be asked to leave, with the process overseen by the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation.
Following the clearance of settlements, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, along with the Ministry of Urban Development, will immediately begin removing debris, opening access roads, and preparing necessary infrastructure.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City will lead efforts such as public announcements, information dissemination, settlement clearance, and identifying individuals in need of humanitarian assistance, while the District Security Committee will arrange necessary security measures.
A central coordination committee will be formed to oversee implementation, coordination, policy decisions, and resource management. The committee will be led by Minister Lamsal and include key officials such as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and secretaries from relevant ministries.
Under this central committee, an implementation committee (action team) will be formed to carry out tasks and regularly report progress.
The meeting also decided that any additional resources or support required during the clearance, security deployment, shelter management, and rehabilitation phases will be promptly provided through coordination with the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.
