Displaced families living in government holding centres have been ordered to move out within days, after authorities issued a vacate notice this week. The centres were set up earlier this year to house people displaced by a drive to clear encroachments from public land and riverbanks across the Kathmandu Valley.
Rather than the permanent resettlement many residents had been waiting for, the government is offering a modest one-time relief payment along with a few months of rent support, paid directly into verified bank accounts. For families who had expected to be allocated land, the offer has become a fresh source of anxiety rather than relief.
Many residents say the timeline is unworkable, arguing that finding rooms at such short notice is nearly impossible and that the rent subsidy falls well short of what it costs to live in Kathmandu. A common worry is the prospect of being displaced all over again once the temporary support runs out, with some calling on the government to prioritise secure housing over short-term cash assistance.
Officials have defended the move, saying families cannot remain in holding centres indefinitely and that budget timing played a part in the tight deadline. They have signalled some flexibility on the date and say they intend to provide land to verified landless families in the coming months.