May 01, Kathmandu - A swift and large-scale effort is currently underway to gather details of squatters residing in Dashrath Stadium as part of the city’s urban management and relocation initiatives.

The process is part of a broader plan to temporarily relocate squatters displaced from various parts of the city. Families removed from areas such as Balkhu, Bansighat, Balaju, and Shankhmul on Friday are being moved to five different locations for temporary shelter. These sites include the Tewa office at Dhapakhel, the Electrical Training Center in Kharipati, the Agriculture Development Bank Training Center in Bode, the Water Supply Training Center at Nagarikot, and the Red Cross building in Banepa.

So far, 72 squatters have voluntarily registered their details at Dashrath Stadium. The data collection is being carried out by a joint team comprising the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee, and Kathmandu Metropolitan Police.

While this move is viewed as an administrative effort to manage the situation effectively, a clear long-term resettlement plan has yet to be announced. The absence of such a strategy has raised concerns and sparked debates about the future of the displaced squatters.