Protests by landless squatters have spread across several districts after authorities issued notices to vacate encroached public land in the wake of settlement clearances in the Kathmandu Valley.

In Pokhara, the landless and unorganised settlers’ struggle committee, Kaski, on Monday submitted a memorandum signed by 1,637 people to the Prime Minister’s Office and Pokhara Metropolitan City through the chief district officer (CDO) of Kaski.

The committee demanded that a 35-day eviction notice issued by Pokhara Metropolitan City on April 16 be withdrawn within seven days. The notice, based on a municipal executive decision, requires the removal of structures built without permission on public and unregistered land.

Thousands of landless settlers gathered at the district administration office in Sahid Chowk and marched through Ratna Chowk, Srijana Chowk and Sabhagriha Chowk before staging a protest outside the metropolitan office in Nayabazar, Pokhara. According to the memorandum, the metropolis is home to 19,176 long-term landless families, including 3,421 landless Dalits, 4,029 squatters and 11,726 informal settlers.

The six-point memorandum, signed by struggle committee coordinator Prem Bahadur Gurung and joint-coordinator Ramesh Balkoti, calls for the cancellation of the eviction notice and recognition of temporary identity slips for tax payments. It also demands systematic classification of unorganised settlers and coordination between the local facilitation committee, Pokhara Metropolitan City and the National Land Commission within seven days.

The committee further called for guarantees of food, shelter, clothing, education, health and employment, and said any relocation must ensure a long-term settlement in a suitable location before eviction.

Citing constitutional provisions, the memorandum referred to Article 37 (1), which guarantees the right to housing, and Article 40 (5), which mandates land provision to landless Dalits. It also cited Article 51 (j) 6, which requires the state to ensure land or employment for freed Kamaiya, Kamlari, Haruwa, Charuwa and Haliya communities.

The committee also referenced provisions under the Land Act (Eighth Amendment), 2020, stating that identity cards issued by the former squatter problem resolution commission and slips provided by the National Land Commission should be recognised as valid. It noted that many residents have already received water and electricity connections with the metropolis’ recommendation.

While welcoming plans to modernise the old bus park at Prithvi Chowk, the committee said development should not proceed until residents are properly relocated. Committee advisor Om Bahadur Poudel warned of further protests if talks are not initiated within a week.

In Makwanpur, landless residents submitted a memorandum to the district administration office (DAO) opposing the federal government’s eviction drive. A protest march that began at Thanabharyang in ward 11 of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City reached the DAO, where demands were handed to CDO Basanta Adhikari and Mayor Meena Kumari Lama.

Following a home ministry directive to collect data on encroached settlements, residents have expressed concern over possible evictions. CDO Adhikari said the data collection is being conducted as instructed by the ministry. The protest included participants from Hetauda, Manahari and Bakaiya.

In Bardiya, landless residents and freed Kamaiyas demonstrated in Gulariya despite rain, demanding the withdrawal of a 15-day notice issued by the Division Forest Office on April 27. Protesters from all eight local units joined the march, chanting slogans against ‘forced evictions’.

The protest was organised by several groups, including the joint land rights struggle committee, the freed Kamaiya land rights struggle committee, the land rights and labourers organisation Nepal, among others. A memorandum submitted to assistant chief district officer Ashok Kumar Bhandari also called for amendments to the Land Act, Forest Act and National Parks Act to allow residents to remain where they are.

In Nawalparasi (East), squatters in Devchuli staged a sit-in at the municipal office, opposing efforts to remove them from long-settled areas. They urged authorities to halt demolitions and grant land ownership titles.

Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj, Nawalparasi (East), also submitted a memorandum to CDO Bhabishwor Pandey. Its president, Yamuna Pandey, said evicting long-term residents without alternatives violates constitutional housing rights and basic human rights.