Nepal demolishes informal squatter settlements

TT 

Published 11.05

            

           An aerial view shows settlements being demolished by Nepalese authorities on Saturday. Photo:                 Prabin Ranabhat/AFP/TT

Nepalese authorities are demolishing informal settlements along the capital's riverbanks, despite criticism from human rights groups.

Thousands of squatters have lived in the areas along the Bagmati River and its tributaries for decades, many of them in fragile wooden and tin sheds.

Early on Saturday, bulldozers began demolishing the buildings. By Friday evening, authorities had reportedly urged residents to evacuate, said Bhishnu Prasad Joshi of the police.

"We are here to help them if they have nowhere to go," he said.

Newly elected Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who is behind the directive, states that it is important to remove people from "unorganized and flood-prone" areas.