There was tension on Monday when the team of the metropolis reached the slum with a dozer to remove the squatter settlement on the Bagmati bank in Thapathali, Kathmandu. The area became tense after the locals pelted stones on the team of the metropolis that went to clear the slums. The locals had threatened to kill themselves and mayor Balen if they die, and if they die, they will not leave the settlement until they are settled.
When the metropolis tried to evacuate the settlement by deploying 300 city policemen, local Khukuri attacked with stones. The local people hurled stones at the city police and set fire to tires. While going to remove the squatter settlement of Thapathali, the squatters were attacked. 36 policemen including Kathmandu Metropolitan City Police Chief Raju Pandey have been injured. Among the injured, 34 are being treated at Thapathali-based Norvik Hospital and 2 are being treated at Veer Hospital, said city police inspector Surya KC, who was assigned to treat the injured.
The Integrated Bagmati Civilization Development Committee had issued a notice to vacate the settlement with a deadline of 4th December. The committee issued a notice and asked to remove the houses and construction materials and vehicles constructed illegally on the river bank. They pelted stones at the team of the metropolis saying that the locals started removing it without alternative arrangements. The locals said that they have been living in this settlement for a long time and now they cannot evict them without making arrangements. Locals were angry saying that the poor have no one to ask for votes, and now the slums of the poor are being removed.
In order to organize the Kathmandu metropolis, they organized a large-scale team in one day to remove the street businesses within the metropolis. Balen has continuously taken one step after another to fulfill Balen’s dream of building a beautiful holy metropolis by demolishing illegal and disorderly structures in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Mayor Balen Shah has been doing the things that the President, Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs have not been able to do till today. After it was seen that Shah was being harassed by various people while working, able-bodied people came to the streets in support of him and started raising their voices and supporting him.
The landlord said that the law had been violated, whatever happened was for the best. House owners are saying that since there are many buildings built against the law in Kathmandu and it has a bad effect on the society, the removal of such structures should be supported. The householder said that since the young boy who is very energetic is constantly working to change the society, everyone should support him in the work that will get a good response in the future. As Engineer Balen Shah fully knows what structure should be built and how it affects life, he has proceeded with the work accordingly. Since the steps taken by Shah are good, he has suggested to continue the work of long-term construction.
