CPN (Maoist Centre) Urges Government to Address Supreme Court Verdict on Kathmandu Valley Riverbank Criteria

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has called on the government to expedite the legal process needed to vacate the Supreme Court’s verdict concerning the criteria for riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley. The main opposition party in the Federal Parliament has raised concerns that the court’s decision could infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens, having a retroactive impact that could deprive many of their rights and privileges.

The Supreme Court, in its December 19, 2023, ruling, mandated the authorities to prevent further encroachment on rivers in the Kathmandu Valley. The court ordered the establishment of an additional 20-meter buffer zone on both sides of the rivers and their tributaries, beyond the existing 20-meter standard. Following this ruling, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City issued a notice on August 14, prohibiting any construction within the newly specified buffer zone.

Agni Prasad Sapkota, Vice-chair and spokesperson of the Maoist Centre, expressed concern that the implementation of this verdict could displace hundreds of thousands of families in the Valley, leading to the loss of properties and rendering many homeless and landless.

The Maoist Centre has urged all local governments within the Kathmandu Valley, including the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, to refrain from hastily implementing the Supreme Court’s verdict, which could potentially violate the constitutional rights of numerous residents.