Recent demolitions of informal settlements across the Kathmandu Valley have left hundreds of families in uncertainty, raising serious questions about the government’s preparedness to handle the aftermath of such large-scale actions.
Led by Kathmandu Metropolitan City in coordination with national security forces, the operation cleared settlements in Manohara, Shantinagar, Thapathali, and Jadibuti. According to official data, 773 families were evicted from the Manohara area in Bhaktapur, 638 families from Shantinagar along the Bagmati River (476 on one side and 162 on the other), 143 families from Thapathali, and 114 families from the Milan Chok area in Jadibuti.
Residents from Manohara opposed the demolition, leading to clashes on April 25 when a police team and media personnel came under attack. Twenty-two security personnel were injured in the incident.
On April 26, authorities escalated the operation, deploying around 2,000 personnel from the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and Metropolitan Police, who then entered the settlement and began demolitions.
The settlements flooded every rainy season, and many have acknowledged that this risk has now been removed. But the question remains: was the aftermath of this decision adequately considered?
While the move has been framed as necessary for environmental restoration and city planning, the situation on the ground tells a more complex story. Many residents left homes where they had lived for years, often with little time to prepare. Scenes of families salvaging belongings in the rain, children clutching school materials, and elderly residents struggling in unfamiliar surroundings highlighted the immediate human cost.
Temporary shelters have been arranged in ashrams, training centers, and hotels, but concerns remain about their adequacy. For many, relocation has also meant the loss of livelihoods, as proximity to the city center has provided access to informal work.
The metropolis has arranged free food, shelter, and basic medical services for those who registered. Officials state that mental health support teams, including psychotherapists, have been deployed to address trauma—particularly among children and the elderly.
While the government’s effort to clear unplanned settlements has been acknowledged, critics say the execution lacked comprehensive planning. Housing alone, they argue, does not address the broader needs of displaced families. The apartment complexes built in Nagarjuna during former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s tenure were intended as solutions, but fall short of ensuring livelihoods, healthcare access, education, and social stability.
The impact has extended beyond housing. Education has been disrupted for many students, including those preparing for examinations, while teachers face uncertainty about their jobs after schools within the settlements were demolished.
Saraswati Basic School in Manohara, located in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-1, was demolished on Monday morning, leaving around 280 students without a learning space. The school, which provided education up to grade 8, served both local residents and children from squatter families, who made up roughly half the student population. The futures of its 15 teachers and one office assistant now remain uncertain.
Vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly, are among those struggling most in temporary arrangements. Beyond human displacement, concerns have also been raised about animals. In a statement shared on social media, Animal Nepal highlighted that forced evictions leave behind “invisible victims,” including pets and strays that are often injured, displaced, or abandoned during demolitions. Groups such as Sneha Care and Community Animal Treatment have been actively involved in feeding, rescuing, and providing medical care to affected animals, addressing a largely overlooked consequence of the eviction drive.
Ranju Darshana, a House of Representatives member from Kathmandu, said that genuine squatters were left in confusion and fear due to short notice and unclear information during the Thapathali settlement removal. She apologized for the panic caused, stressing that affected residents should be given proper options and not treated as a political vote bank.
At the Radhaswami Satsang site in Sundarighat alone, around 161 individuals were being housed as of Wednesday. Authorities say health workers are available around the clock, with special attention given to vulnerable groups.
“The services here are very good. The team has been taking care of us very well,” said an elderly woman at the shelter. “They have provided mosquito nets and are trying to make us feel at home, although the pain of leaving our place still remains.” “We have been providing mental health support services to the displaced families,” said a member of the Council Department of Psychology at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. “They appeared more severely affected on the first day but are gradually beginning to adjust. Our team is conducting a needs assessment, with particular focus on pregnant women, children, and elderly individuals.” As of Wednesday, the team had already worked with 43 families.
“The Nepal Electricity Authority is working to restore lighting in the area, and tents were provided from Tuesday,” said a municipal worker. “Food distribution has also improved. On the first day, people were given packed meals, but now we have shifted to a buffet system where they can serve themselves and take as much as they need. We are also trying to meet specific needs—infants are provided lito, elderly people receive appropriate food, and pregnant women are given suitable nutrition.”
A police officer at the Satsang site said, “We have been instructed that journalists will not be allowed to enter on Thursday, as per directions from the Prime Minister’s Office, and our focus is currently on maintaining security.” He noted that the number of families is likely to increase in the coming days, and that arrangements are being made to shift pregnant women and elderly individuals to hotels where they can receive better services.
The demolitions have also exposed deeper structural issues. While authorities acknowledge the presence of “fake squatters” occupying valuable land, many genuine landless families remain without clear alternatives. Critics argue that while the removal of settlements may have been inevitable, the lack of clear communication, phased planning, and sustainable rehabilitation measures has led to confusion, fear, and resentment among affected communities.
In Hotel Smarika, Mitranagar, 35 individuals from Thapathali and Shantinagar are currently staying. Naramaya Pariyar, 71, had been living in Shantinagar since 2058 BS with her family. She was unaware that her settlement would be demolished that day and was not informed in time. She remains hopeful that the government will make arrangements for them soon. Her granddaughter is staying at a friend’s house and continuing her studies, while her son has been unable to go to work since the relocation.
“The officers who brought us here have assured us that we will be relocated as soon as possible, and that arrangements are being made for our settlement,” she said. According to her, the hotel staff have been treating them well, regularly checking on their needs and allowing them to share their concerns.
Hotel Smarika’s owner, Tarak Sharma Pantha, said he was grateful to host them, noting that officials visit regularly for monitoring and have provided documents for daily movement and registration. He expressed dissatisfaction, however, with the use of the term “vulnerable” in the registration papers.
Pantha said he was informed about their transfer only a day in advance. While he acknowledged that the relocation was eventually expected, he stressed that the government should have ensured proper pre-planning, including arrangements for settlement, food, and consideration of the difficulties residents might face.
Nir Kumar Puri, 53, had been living in the Thapathali settlement for nine years with his family. His wife is currently staying at her parental home, his daughter is married, and his son is staying at a friend's house. He said he has no belongings with him except the clothes he is wearing, and that they were informed about the situation only a day before, leaving them wholly unprepared.
He said he wishes to be provided with proper settlement for his family and noted that, being physically able, he can continue working and earning on his own. But the loss of his home has left him deeply shaken.
“Because of this, we are facing mental problems. My roommate, a young boy, is also suffering. He does not speak much or leave the room often. The police have been supporting us throughout this phase. One person fell sick on Tuesday and was immediately taken to the hospital and brought back by them.”
He added that the situation is especially serious given that elderly people, persons with disabilities, infants, and pregnant women are among those affected, and expressed hope that until a permanent location is arranged, they will be cared for with attention and dignity.
The Kathmandu Valley’s situation is not without international parallel. Dharavi—one of Mumbai’s largest informal settlements, home to nearly a million people—illustrates both the importance and complexity of such communities. While slums often face poor housing, sanitation, and flooding risks, they also support strong local economies and tightly knit communities. Residents of Dharavi run significant informal industries in recycling, tailoring, and pottery. Yet redevelopment plans have raised concerns about displacement and inadequate consultation—reflecting a global tension in which efforts to “improve” slums can threaten the very communities they are meant to help.
Similarly, in Delhi, the demolition of Madrasi Camp—home to around 370 Tamil migrant families who had lived there for decades—was carried out following a court order declaring it an encroachment. Residents were left homeless with limited notice and inadequate rehabilitation. Across Delhi, thousands of slum dwellings have been removed in recent years, often relocating the urban poor far from their workplaces and excluding many through strict eligibility criteria.
In Nepal, the actions taken under Prime Minister Balen Shah reflect attempts to address unmanaged settlements and urban risks. While such steps are often seen as bold and necessary, they equally underscore the importance of careful planning, proper consultation, and humane resettlement to ensure that development does not come at the cost of the communities it claims to serve.
