NC General Secretary Calls for Proper Squatter Management

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradeep Paudel has criticized the government, stating that the action to remove squatters was carried out in haste. Speaking to media persons before the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting, he mentioned that the steps were taken without proper investigation, causing distress even to genuine squatters.

He said, "The work should have been done in a way that genuine squatters were not troubled after an investigation. However, the government has removed the squatters very hastily. It appeared as though the state was using force and oppression."

Paudel mentioned that the state should be supportive of all citizens and recalled that significant homework regarding the squatter problem had been done previously. He alleged that based on that groundwork, it was possible to distinguish between genuine and fake squatters, but this was ignored.

He stated, "The state should be helpful to everyone. Much groundwork was done regarding squatters in the past. Based on that work, there were grounds to identify who the genuine squatters were and who were the fake ones. There were genuine squatters even within large settlements. They were also forcibly removed using bulldozers."

He added that even genuine squatters living within large settlements were removed using bulldozers, showing that the state failed to fulfill its responsibility.

Paudel emphasized that rather than immediate removal to solve the squatter problem, they should not be evicted until a study is conducted over time and alternative arrangements are ensured. He expressed the view that management should be carried out with minimal distress after understanding the situation of genuine squatters.

He said, "It did not seem like the state fulfilled its responsibility. We are not saying things should remain exactly as they are, but the squatters should have been managed easily by taking time, providing alternative arrangements for genuine squatters, and understanding their situation to avoid excessive suffering."