Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal has shared that genuine squatters will be distributed land ownership certificates by Dashain this year. During interaction with the public in Rupandehi, he said the government is working in a planned manner to permanently resolve the issue of squatters and this was prioritised from the very first Cabinet meeting after the formation of the government.

According to the minister, with the current government’s 100-day action plan, the processes of land measurement, data collection, identification of genuine squatters, land management and distribution of ownership certificates have been accelerated. By Dashain, most genuine squatters will receive their land ownership certificates. He assured that land-related issues would be resolved in the coming months and urged citizens to refrain from protests and being instigated. Minister Lamsal reiterated that the government is working towards a long-term solution to the problems of squatters and informal settlements.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah had launched a massive clearance campaign in the month of May, deploying bulldozers and heavy security forces to demolish unauthorized squatter settlements along the riverbanks of the Kathmandu Valley, lakeside in Pokhara and Butwal. The widespread demolitions have sparked significant protests from the affected landless populations and raised serious human rights concerns. Many locals in the federal capital of Nepal living in high-risk areas were relocated with alternative temporary arrangements.