Govt to form task force to address problems concerning river corridor settlements

The Ministry of Home Affairs has started a coordinated initiative to address problems concerning human settlements in the river corridors of Kathmandu Valley.

Accordingly, the meeting of heads and officers of relevant ministries and agencies held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Monday concluded that the concerned agencies should work together to solve the long-standing problem. It was agreed that the High-powered committee for integrated development of Bagmati Civilization, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the National Land Commission should meet soon to resolve the problem within a fixed time.

The meeting decided to form a task force with representation from the Ministries of Home, Urban Development, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Land Management and Poverty Alleviation and High-powered committee for integrated development of Bagmati Civilization, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the National Land Commission, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha stressed on the need to work in a coordinated manner to remove the unauthorized settlements in the Bagmati Corridor and said the removal of the slums would be completed in conjunction with the resettlement plan of the real slum dwellers.

Minister for Urban Development Sita Gurung reminded that the government’s policy and program and budget mentions about relocating the settlements in the river corridor. However, in the name of removing slums, the rights of real squatters should not be violated or denied.

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Amanlal Modi said that the ministry is ready to coordinate with the local level to solve the problems concerning the settlements in the river corridors.

Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Sah, said that he expected help of the Ministry of Home Affairs to remove the unorganized settlements of the Bagmati Corridor.
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