PM KP Sharma Oli Signals Government Will Challenge Supreme Court’s Ruling on Riverbank Construction Ban

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that the government will soon seek to vacate the Supreme Court’s decision that prohibits construction on an additional 20 meters of riverbank land in the Kathmandu Valley. The announcement came as he received a memorandum from Suman Sayami, coordinator of the Valley Roads Expansion Affected People’s Struggle Committee, and the River Standard Concern Group at his residence in Baluwatar.

During the meeting, PM Oli expressed the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of local residents and affected groups. “We respect the decisions of the esteemed court, but some rulings may be flawed for various reasons. Seeking a vacate is the legal avenue for correcting such decisions if they are found inappropriate. I am confident the Court will consider the people’s grievances, and justice will be served,” the Prime Minister stated.

PM Oli also touched on the importance of national unity and warned against elements that could undermine the nation’s cultural and civilizational integrity. “The Nepali culture is rooted in unity and friendship. We must be vigilant against forces that might disrupt our national unity and existence,” he added.

The discussion followed a decision by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor on August 8 to enforce the Court’s order by prohibiting construction on the additional 20 meters of land along rivers. The Struggle Committee has urged the government to reconsider the Court’s order and the Mayor’s notice, arguing that implementing these decisions could displace hundreds of thousands of people and jeopardize their property.