Nepal PM defends squatter settlement clearances
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Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has defended the forceful removal of informal settlements in Kathmandu, following sharp criticism from international rights groups.
Speaking on Monday, the 36-year-old leader insisted the demolitions are "in accordance with the law" and aimed at securing permanent housing rather than merely evicting the landless.
The operation, which began in April, targeted flimsy shelters built along the Bagmati riverbanks. Activists report that approximately 3,500 structures housing 25,000 people have been destroyed under a heavy police presence.
Groups such as Amnesty International have condemned the move as an "authoritarian approach" that threatens the livelihoods of thousands. While the government claims it is committed to ensuring no citizen becomes homeless, the Supreme Court has now issued a show-cause order following petitions against the clearances.
Currently, nearly 800 of the 1,800 registered squatter families have been moved to state holding centres as the legal challenge continues.
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