Authorities have cleared three informal settlements in Kathmandu as part of an ongoing campaign to remove structures built on public land and riverbanks.
On Saturday, settlements in Thapathali along the Bagmati river, Gairigaun–Sinamangal, and Shantinagar were demolished under the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s enforcement drive. Officials said both temporary and permanent structures had been built in these areas by encroaching on government land.
A joint team of the Metropolitan Police, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force was deployed throughout the day. Security personnel first assisted residents in moving belongings before bulldozers were used to tear down the structures. The operation in Thapathali was completed relatively quickly due to fewer permanent buildings, while work in Gairigaun–Sinamangal continued late into the night because of the higher number of concrete houses.
Although the settlements have been cleared, debris remains scattered across the sites, causing some disruption to movement. Authorities say clean-up efforts will follow in the coming days.
According to government data, hundreds of families had been living in such encroached areas across the valley, with a significant number concentrated in the locations targeted in the latest operation.
The clearance campaign is part of a broader effort to protect public land, manage river corridors, and improve urban planning and environmental conditions in the capital. However, the move has also raised concerns about the future of displaced families, with growing calls for proper rehabilitation and long-term housing solutions.
While the demolitions in Kathmandu were carried out without major clashes, tensions were reported in Bhaktapur’s Manohara river area, where residents resisted similar efforts. During the confrontation, more than twenty security personnel were injured after being attacked with stones and other objects.