1 May 2026 | Kathmandu, Nepal
KATHMANDU – The bulldozers are not stopping. Not in Thapathali. Not in Gairigaun. Not along the Manohara River. And now, they have rolled into Balkhu.
Early Friday morning, Kathmandu Metropolitan City launched demolition operations in the Balkhu settlement area, where hundreds of temporary homes and makeshift structures had been built on encroached land. The operation marks the second phase of the government's most aggressive urban land reclamation effort in decades.
"The government has embraced democratic values to ensure that public service delivery remains efficient," officials said. But for the families watching their homes crumble, the message was less about efficiency and more about survival.
⚡ THE NUMBERS: 777 homes demolished along Manohara River • 1,300 police + 600 APF deployed • 22 injured in Manohara clashes • 90 families relocated • 14+ locations targeted in Phase 2
BALKHU: NOTICE GIVEN, THEN BULLDOZERS ARRIVED
The District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu, had issued an official notice on Wednesday, ordering residents to vacate the Balkhu area by Thursday evening. Authorities stated that the structures were illegally occupying government, public, and riverside land.
Following the notice, residents hurried to remove their belongings. Some managed to move out in time. Many remained in the area, witnessing their homes being demolished – piece by piece, wall by wall.
The Balkhu operation follows the same blueprint used in earlier phases: a short notice period, a heavy security presence, and bulldozers that do not negotiate.
MANOHARA RIVER: 777 HOMES, 1,900 SECURITY PERSONNEL, 22 INJURED
Before Balkhu, there was Manohara. The government demolished the houses and huts of squatter settlements along the banks of the Manohara River over two days, on Baisakh 12 and 13.
The operation was massive in scale. A total of 777 houses and temporary shelters existed in the settlement. To clear them, authorities deployed 1,300 police personnel and 600 Armed Police Force officers mobilized from Bhaktapur.
According to government records, around 90 families classified as unmanaged settlers were residing in Kageshwari Manohara Municipality Wards 8 and 9.
Earlier, on the evening of Baisakh 12, seven large permanent concrete houses had already been demolished in the same area. During that operation, security personnel faced resistance from some settlers.
— Security source
The government has relocated the displaced squatters from the area into temporary shelters at various locations. But for many, "temporary" is a word that offers little comfort.
PHASE TWO: A DOZEN MORE LOCATIONS TARGETED
The operation in Balkhu marks the second phase of the government's broader mission to remove settlements built on encroached land and vulnerable riverbanks across Kathmandu Valley.
Authorities have announced simultaneous demolition and eviction operations in several locations including:
- Banshighat
- Shankhamul
- Buddhanagar
- Balkhu
- Kuleshwor
- Kapan
- Basundhara
- Gongabu
- Balaju
- Machhapokhari
- Samakhushi
- Khadipakha
- Ranibari
- Swayambhu
In Ward No. 11's Banshighat area, demolition teams arrived with nearly half a dozen bulldozers, accompanied by Nepal Police, Armed Police Force personnel, and municipal police. Residents in the area had already begun relocating after repeated public announcements.
FIRST PHASE: ALREADY COMPLETED
The first phase of the campaign had already cleared settlements in:
- Thapathali
- Gairigaun
- Sinamangal
- Manohara
- Shantinagar
Officials say the remaining identified settlements will now face similar action in the coming days. The bulldozers, it seems, will keep rolling.
DISASTER RISK OR DISPLACEMENT? THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE
According to the District Administration Office, many of these settlements have existed for years on land illegally occupied along riverbanks, government property, public land, and even private plots.
Authorities argue that clearing these settlements is necessary for humanitarian rescue planning and long-term disaster prevention. During the monsoon season, riverside settlements face serious flooding threats. The government says it is acting to save lives.
The administration emphasized that the campaign is being carried out under legal provisions and with security deployment to maintain order during the operation.
THE HUMAN COST: FAMILIES WITH NOWHERE TO GO
While the government pushes forward with the clearance campaign, many displaced families now face uncertainty over shelter and relocation. Some residents expressed frustration, saying they had lived in these settlements for years and had nowhere else to go.
"We have been here for 15 years," said one resident who declined to give his name. "Where will we go now?"
It is a question that thousands of displaced families across Kathmandu are asking.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
For now, the bulldozers continue moving across Kathmandu's riverside settlements. The campaign is far from over. More than a dozen locations remain on the list. And the government shows no sign of slowing down.
The operation has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, who argue that the government is bulldozing homes without adequate relocation plans. But officials insist that the campaign is legal, necessary, and will continue.
As the monsoon approaches, the battle over Kathmandu's riverbanks is only intensifying.
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