Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City in Rupandehi has intensified its drive to clear encroached pavements. The campaign, which started on Wednesday, sparked tensions, with traders accusing authorities of using high-handed strategies. They also accused the authorities of not keeping proper records of seized goods.

The sub-metropolis has been conducting daily inspections to remove roadside obstructions and enforce order in market areas. Officials appeared forceful during the first two days of the drive but adopted a relatively softer approach on Friday.

Municipal teams monitored the Hospital Line, Bhudki Chowk and Milan Chowk areas on the first day. At Bhudki Chowk, traders alleged that their goods were damaged and structures such as front porches and sheds were dismantled. In Milan Chowk, items from reconditioned motorcycle shops operating on the roadside were seized.

On Thursday, inspections moved to Amarpath, targeting bedding shops, and to the Ram Mandir area, focusing on cloth and utensil stores. Clashes broke out between traders and a joint team comprising municipal police, Nepal Police, Mayor Khelraj Pandey, Deputy Mayor Sabitra Devi Aryal, Chief Administrative Officer Dipak Gyawali and other officials. Municipal police said they were attacked as they confiscated goods including mattresses, bags and utensils.

Mayor Pandey defended the approach, saying the municipality would act sternly when needed. “On the second day, traders confronted municipal police, so we had to respond in a stronger manner,” Pandey said. “Our aim is not to target anyone but to make Butwal a clean and orderly city for business.”

Pandey added that the sub-metropolitan city had issued prior notices and made repeated public announcements to clear the encroached space.

Gyawali further clarified that a public notice had been issued 15 days earlier, instructing traders to vacate pavements. “We also made continuous announcements, but some traders, especially long-established traders and reconditioned goods sellers, ignored the warnings,” he said. The campaign will continue for three months, followed by regular monitoring.

Traders, however, allege intimidation and arbitrary seizure of goods. Bijay Rayamajhi, owner of City Bag House, reported that municipal police entered his shop and took items. “They loaded goods onto a tipper truck even as I said I would remove them myself,” he said, terming it a “gangster-like behaviour”. He said more than two dozen bags and a curtain worth around Rs40,000 were confiscated.

Other traders echoed similar concerns, saying items placed on the shop’s frontage were seized without notice. Suraj Thapa, who owns Thapa Kitchen, complained that the authorities took away goods kept at the front porch.

According to Deputy Mayor Aryal, fewer confrontations occurred on Friday as traders had begun removing goods voluntarily. Confiscated items are currently stored in a warehouse, but officials admit that detailed records—such as which shop the goods were taken from—are yet to be compiled. Chief Administrative Officer Gyawali said a decision on what to do next would be made after assessing how much was seized and in what condition they were.