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Ejecting Squatters From the Bagmati River Bank In Kathmandu
By KTM Metro Reporter
May 8, 2012: five bulldozers have bulldozed the illegally built blocks and shades on the bank of the Bagmati River today ejecting the squatters from there following the order of the government according to the news posted on the Zeenews.india.com.
More than 500 police of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Metropolitan Police were on duty while five bulldozers worked to clear off the makeshift shelters in the area.
Talking to Xinhua Tuesday, police officer Bishnu Joshi said this was the eighth time that the government evacuated the area. "But every time we vacate the settlement, they come here again," Joshi said. "The government had decided to provide (Nepali) Rs.15, 000 ($180) as compensation but only 67 people came for it," he added.
Squatters accused the police officials of barging in and kicking them out of the homes, however police denied the accusation. Many were seen crying, collecting their clothes and small pack of their property while watching the bulldozers removed their shelters.
Sabitri Rai, 58, told Xinhua that she had been living in the area for nine years and this day reminded her of tragedy she faced when her house was swept away by a flood in Manthale, some 85 km from the capital. "Now, I have no where to go, last time it was natural disaster but now it is done deliberately by humans," she said with tears in her eyes and a small cigarette in her fingers.
Hundreds of irate squatters clashed with the riot police in Sukumbasi basti (shanties) of Thapathali and Teku area from where the demolition drive started today as part of the latest development plan of the government to make Kathmandu “beautiful and habitable,” the news on the nepalnews.com says.
In response to the squatters hurling stones at the bulldozers the police throw teargas canisters at the squatters to disperse, and clashed with the squatters. Dozens of squatters and policemen were injured in the clash. Police arrested a number of squatters who threw stones and bottles at the policemen
Authorities believe that more than 50 squatters’ settlements with an estimated population of over 25,000 in various spots along the Bagmati River are in Kathmandu, but independent reports say such settlements could be more than 75 in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, the government officials have said they have all but completed the verification of squatters at Thapathali and Teku and have decided to provide Rs 15,000 to each household of “genuine squatters” as immediate relief. The government has also purchased about eight ropani of land at Ichangu Narayan Village Development Committee in Kathmandu to build apartments for the “genuine squatters,” according to the news posted on the nepalnews.com today.
