Government Advances Plan to Manage Squatter Settlements in Kathmandu Valley

Summary: The government has initiated a plan to systematically manage squatters living along the riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley through official certification. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has announced that certified squatters will soon begin the land allocation process. The Land Problem Solving Commission has arranged to grant certified squatters land parcels ranging from four aana to six and a half kathha.

Kathmandu, 11 Baisakh: The government is moving forward with a plan to organize squatters residing along riverbanks within the Kathmandu Valley. The detailed action plan includes establishing certification camps, issuing photo ID cards to recognized squatters, and gradually evicting those who fail certification.

Regarding arrangements for certified genuine squatters, Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah stated on Facebook, “We will expedite the process of land distribution to genuine squatters throughout the country as soon as possible.” Land laws provide for the distribution of land once to landless Dalits and landless squatters and aim to organize unplanned settlements. To this end, the government has formed the Land Problem Solving Commission.

Under the law, individuals who do not own land in their own or family members’ names and cannot afford land from their income are recognized as ‘landless squatters.’ Similarly, the National Dalit Commission classifies landless squatters from scheduled castes as ‘landless Dalits.’ Persons and families who have settled in government, public, or forest areas for at least 18 years, but without legal permission, are defined as ‘unplanned settlers.’

According to Kathmandu Metropolitan spokesperson Navin Manandhar, the land allocation process for certified squatters is being conducted through the Land Problem Solving Commission. He emphasized, “We are proceeding with land distribution as per legal provisions to ensure that genuine squatters do not face injustice.”

The government is collaborating with local levels to collect, record, verify, and certify data. Based on certified data, cadastral maps will be prepared, followed by verification and report generation. After thorough examination, public notifications, fees, local government endorsements, public disclosures, and claim processes, the district-level Land Problem Solving Commission will finalize decisions and forward them to the central commission.

According to procedural guidelines of 2081 BS, the district committee formally informs the commission of certified landowners, who are subsequently allocated land accordingly. Landless Dalits, landless squatters, and unplanned settlers will be given land based on this certification.

Land Problem Solving Commission Chairman Hariprasad Rizal explained that certified squatters will be provided up to four aana of land within the city for residential use and up to six and a half kathha for housing and farming purposes. When managing unplanned settlers, classification and ownership transfer will consider economic status, settlement conditions, land type, size, valuation, and duration of land rights, with applicable fees.

Rizal added that ownership transfer will not exceed 29 and a half ropani of land, even if fees are paid. Legal provisions stipulate that, whenever possible, settlements should be regularized at their current location. However, settlements on riverbanks, forested areas, hazard-prone zones, or private/public lands registered under someone else’s name will not receive land at the same site.

For such individuals, land will be jointly allocated by local, provincial, and federal governments. If unavailable locally, land within the respective province must be provided. Additionally, the acquired land cannot be sold for a minimum of ten years.