KATHMANDU, Nov 9: The Gen-Z Movement Alliance has urged the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) not to act with arrogance, contempt or neglect toward marginalized communities as the city begins its drive to remove squatter settlements from public land.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Alliance called on the local government to act with empathy and coordination rather than coercion, as the KMC and the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) started clearing encroached public land along riverbanks including the Dhobikhola Corridor.
“We request the Kathmandu Metropolitan City to set an example by reaching an agreement with the concerned communities and ensuring appropriate management so that the capital becomes a shared city for all. The local government should not wield the weapons of arrogance, contempt or disregard against defenseless and oppressed citizens,” the statement reads.
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The Alliance also urged the KMC to make public any studies conducted regarding squatter settlements within its jurisdiction.
“There are often debates about who are ‘genuine’ and ‘fake’ squatters. Therefore, if the metropolis has studied the settlements within its area, it should release factual data and make the reality transparent,” the Alliance said.
The KMC, in coordination with the KVDA, has begun reclaiming encroached public land starting from Sunday, following the expiration of a seven-day public notice issued on October 31. The initial phase of the drive is focused on the Dhobikhola river corridor, where authorities have identified over 168 ropani of government land encroached upon.
According to KMC officials, the city plans to gradually clear encroached areas.
KMC Assistant Spokesperson Dhruva Kumar Kafle said the metropolis would reclaim public property in accordance with the law and clarified that the move was not targeted against squatters.
“We are not against squatters. We are taking legal action to free public land encroached upon by anyone,” Kafle said.
The Gen-Z Movement Alliance, which has been vocal about issues of social justice and youth activism, emphasized that any relocation or clearance process must respect the dignity and rights of marginalized citizens and ensure fair resettlement arrangements.
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