Government extends eviction deadline for squatters in Kathmandu building

Deshsanchar

July 02,2026

Block B2.

This building serves as a landmark.

In this Block B2, 167 members from 48 families, displaced from a squatter settlement by bulldozers accompanied by the army, are currently residing.

It has been over a month since squatters were accommodated in this government building located in Nagarjun Municipality-1, Raniban, Kathmandu. The government, which had been discussing permanent arrangements in this building, has now issued an order for the squatters to vacate by Ashadh 19.

A notice posted at the entrance of the building states, ‘In accordance with the prior notice, residents of the holding center were informed to self-manage by Ashadh 12. Considering complaints about the short duration for receiving house rent, the deadline has been extended to Ashadh 19.’

This notice was issued by the Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee.

Previously, on Jestha 8, the committee had issued a notice instructing the squatters to vacate the holding center by Jestha 12. When they were unable to leave by that date, the deadline was extended to the 19th.

The committee has instructed them to find rooms themselves. The government has decided to provide an initial 25,000 rupees for room management, followed by 15,000 rupees per family of five for three months, with an additional 1,000 rupees for each additional member beyond five.

In implementing this decision, the government has ordered the squatters to find rooms and manage on their own. However, they are unable to vacate the holding center by the 19th.

Dila Pariyar, residing in the holding center, has tried to find a room. Displaced from the squatter settlement in Sinamangal, she even went to the Sinamangal area to search for a room.

When told the rent was 16,000 rupees, she returned. ‘I went to look for a room after the government issued the notice. But they said 16,000,’ she said. ‘The government is giving 15,000. How can we find a room when the rent itself is not covered?’

Pariyar explained that finding a room is very difficult. ‘They don’t give rooms to squatters. They ask about caste. They look at our appearance. They ask about work,’ she lamented. ‘What do we have as squatters that they would give us a room?’

She stated that it is not possible to leave just because the government says ‘go’. ‘Where do we go now?’ she questioned.

‘Might as well shoot us. Where do we go after leaving here?’ she said harshly.

She has no desire to stay permanently in the Raniban building where she is currently housed. But she says she has no choice. ‘There’s nowhere to go. If not here, where else? It’s not possible to live in such a building forever!’ Pariyar said, speaking to Desh Sanchar outside the building on Monday afternoon.

Pooja Khatri, displaced from the Shantinagar squatter settlement, has even bigger complaints than Pariyar. Her family consists of nine members. A regular room cannot accommodate a family of nine. They cannot afford to rent a flat. She complains that the 15,000 rupees provided by the government is not enough to cover rent.

She also complains about the difficulty of finding a room in Kathmandu. ‘You can’t find a room. They say 25-30 thousand for a flat,’ she said. ‘Even if there is a room, they ask about jobs. What job do we have, sir?’

While living in the Shantinagar squatter settlement, she used to work in other people’s houses. After being displaced, she lost that job as well.

She complains that the government has not taken care of them after displacing them from the squatter settlement. Now, being told to leave adds to her worries. ‘My parents are sick. Even 15-20 thousand a month is not enough for them. The government has not looked after us. We can’t find work,’ she lamented. ‘The government is now saying to leave. Where do we go now!’

Khatri says if the government does not provide a place to stay, she will go and live wherever they tell her. ‘We don’t need anything else. Just give us a place to stay. In this situation, we can’t go anywhere,’ she said.

Tara Gurung, displaced from Sinamangal, says it is not possible to leave the holding center. She is prepared to face bullets from the government, stating that without a place to go, she cannot leave. ‘We don’t even need the money the government is giving. Just provide a place,’ she said. ‘We can’t just leave because they say so. Even if they shoot us, we are ready to die here. There is no option but to die.’

Sanakumar Khanal, displaced from the Manohara squatter settlement, says it is not possible to find a room as the government suggests. Finding a room is difficult. Even if found, the rent is too high, making it impossible to leave the holding center until the government arranges land.

‘We can’t leave the holding center just because they say so. It’s not as easy as the government claims to find a room. It’s equally expensive. That 15,000 is nothing,’ he said. ‘It’s only for three months, then where do we go?’

Khanal demands that arrangements be made before they are displaced, as there is nowhere to go after leaving the holding center.

He insists that while it’s not possible to stay in the holding center forever, land should be arranged quickly.

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