KATHMANDU, July 7: The government on Monday vacated two holding centers in Nagarkot and Bode, relocating 45 squatter families across the Kathmandu Valley and providing Rs 25,000 in assistance to each family, even as a long-term rehabilitation plan remains uncertain.
Employees of the High-Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization (HPCIDBC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, transported the families to destinations of their choice, including Koteshwar, using government vehicles.
Before the relocation, 21 families had been staying at the Nagarkot holding center, while 24 families were accommodated at the Bode facility.
Top Bahadur Baniya, information officer at the HPCIDBC, confirmed that both holding centers have been completely vacated.
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"From Monday, we have cleared the holding centers in Nagarkot and Bode. The families staying there were provided Rs 25,000 each and transported to destinations of their choice," he said.
Baniya said the government has also stopped providing food at the remaining five holding centers from Monday, meaning families still staying there will now have to arrange their own meals.
According to him, 260 of the 388 squatter families accommodated in holding centers have already received the Rs 25,000 relief payment. He urged the remaining families to complete the required paperwork to receive the assistance.
Following the closure of the Nagarkot and Bode facilities, displaced families are now staying at the remaining five holding centers located in hotels in Balaju, Radha Swami Satsang Byas, Banepa, Ichangu Narayan and Kharipati.
The government launched a demolition drive against squatter settlements across the Kathmandu Valley for about 15 days beginning April 25. Families displaced after excavators razed their homes were temporarily moved to holding centers. More than two months later, however, a permanent rehabilitation plan has yet to materialize.
To address the issue, the government has formed the Land Problem Settlement Commission, which has pledged to distribute land ownership certificates to genuine landless squatters within 600 days.
During the demolition campaign, authorities cleared 19 squatter settlements across the Valley, demolishing 2,687 structures, including 890 permanent and 1,797 temporary structures.
According to the District Administration Office, the operation displaced 15,316 people, including 6,858 men, 5,325 women, 1,437 boys and 1,696 girls.
For the 2026/27 fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 3 billion to develop parks, green spaces, river corridors, flood-control infrastructure and drainage systems in areas where the settlements were removed.
