Different local units across the country have objected to the Nepali Army’s move to seek written details of landless squatters from them, saying it encroaches on their jurisdiction.

The chiefs of the municipalities and rural municipalities from various parts of the country, particularly in Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa and Bardiya districts, have resisted the request, refusing to comply with the national defence force's call.

Shyam Prasad Rajbanshi, mayor of Sunbarshi Municipality in Morang, said the army’s move to seek data on matters that fall within the jurisdiction of local governments runs counter to constitutional practice and the spirit of federalism. “The management of landless people is the responsibility of local governments. Why is the army involved?” he said. “Why should we provide the data to the army? We are capable enough to handle it.”

With the federal government resorting to the forcible eviction of squatter settlements, the security agencies and local administrations in several districts are competing to collect records of squatters and unorganised dwellers. On April 23, the District Police Offices in Jhapa and Morang directed all subordinate units to submit records of landless households throughout the districts.

The District Administration Offices issued separate instructions to local governments. Municipalities in Jhapa, Damak, Mechinagar and Dharan have expressed dissatisfaction, saying they were pressured—through chief district officers—to deploy bulldozers immediately. They objected to what they described as an “order-driven” approach rather than coordination. “We are not watchmen of the CDO,” said Ram Thapa, mayor of Damak Municipality. “We are not obliged to follow such orders.”

Thapa said managing landless settlements is a complex, long-term process that cannot be resolved by hasty bulldozer action. “First, there must be proper surveying, verification and identification of genuine cases. Only then can solutions be pursued,” he said.

Acting mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City, Aindra Bikram Begha, echoed the stance, saying settlements would not be removed under external pressure. He stressed that addressing the plight of landless citizens is the responsibility of local governments and must be handled humanely.

In Bardiya, chiefs and chairpersons of all eight local units have said they will not cooperate with the government until genuine landless people are properly managed. They have urged the government to respect citizens’ fundamental right to housing and to follow due process. They accuse Kathmandu of using the local administrations to treat local governments as its subordinates.

A meeting of mayors from the municipalities of Gulariya, Madhuwan, Thakurbaba, Rajapur, Bansgadhi, and Barbardiya, along with the chair of Geruwa Rural Municipality, issued a statement criticising the government’s approach. “A letter dated April 25 from the Nepali Army under the Ministry of Defence sought updated details of landless settlements in Bardiya’s local units. Our serious attention has been drawn to the move which was taken, bypassing due procedures and legal process.”

Khadga Bahadur Khadka, mayor of Bansgadhi Municipality, asked whether the country is being run by the civilian government or the military. He argued that the army’s request for updated data had not followed prevailing laws.

Meanwhile, the Division Forest Office in Bardiya has issued a 15-day notice to clear encroachments in forest areas.

The notice calls for the removal of structures built through unauthorised encroachment in areas such as Kothiyaghat, Machadchok, Sangam settlement in Gulariya, Khurkhurephanta and Rambasti in Barbardiya, as well as other community forests. Ram Gopal Chaudhary, senior assistant forest officer, said settlement and cultivation in forest areas are prohibited under Section 49(g) of the Forest Act, 2019. The office has warned that failure to comply by the deadline will result in eviction and penalties under the law.

According to the Division Forest Office, more than 1,000 hectares of forest land in Bardiya have been encroached upon in the name of both governmental and non-governmental entities, as well as landless groups. Mayor of Thakurbaba Municipality, Tilak Lamsal, said the local governments would not support eviction drives unless genuine landless people are properly rehabilitated. “We will not support non-landless claimants,” he said. “Our priority is the management of genuine landless people. They should not be left in distress.”