In a massive sweep to clear public and government lands, the federal government has issued directives to all 753 local levels to properly identify, verify, and manage squatters across the country. Through a newly implemented “Land Records Information Management System,” authorities have officially begun the digital verification of genuine squatters.
Recent data submitted to the Land Commission reveals a staggering 1,213,812 applicants claiming landless status. This includes 98,851 landless Dalits, 181,378 landless squatters, and 933,583 unorganized settlers. However, authorities estimate that only about 280,000 of these are actual landless squatters, while the majority are unorganized settlers occupying riverbanks, forests, and public slopes. Scientific data collection is finally complete and digital testing of applications is in full swing.
Despite the aggressive federal push, local authorities are raising red flags. Bhim Prasad Dhungana, Chairman of the Municipal Association of Nepal, stated that municipalities cannot manage the squatter crisis alone due to extreme budget cuts and an absolute lack of legal authority to distribute land. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has ordered local bodies to coordinate strictly with District Administration Offices (DAOs) to filter out fake claimants. Furthermore, the directive strictly mandates that genuine squatters must not be evicted without a solid relocation plan ensuring safe housing, food, and medical care.
