Farmer hit as riverside clearance exposes livestock

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 28: Several farmers engaged in commercial cattle rearing along the riverbank in Bagmati and Manohara have been left in distress after authorities cleared squatters and demolished makeshift structures in a recent evacuation drive, reportedly without providing sufficient time for relocation.

Among those affected is 60-year-old Ben Bahadur Thapa, a long-time cow farmer from Madhyapur Thimi Municipality–1, who has been operating his livestock business on the Manohara riverbank since 2057 BS.

Thapa said he was forced to keep his eight cows under the open sky after his cowshed was demolished during the clearance operation carried out on Sunday.

According to affected farmers, sudden removal of structures has disrupted their livelihoods and left them struggling to manage their livestock, with no proper shelter arrangements in place.

Thapa claimed that repeated requests to the authorities for a grace period of two to three days to prepare temporary shelters were ignored.

“I have been requesting for a few days’ time to construct proper sheds for my cattle, but they did not listen. Eventually, my cow shed was destroyed,” Thapa said, adding that he is now keeping his cattle under tarpaulin sheets near the demolished structure.

He had started livestock farming after taking around three ropanis of land on lease in 2057 BS in the place.

Thapa, originally from Khotang, said he has been paying taxes for operating his registered cow farm, “Ma Durga Krishi Farm,” since 2072 BS.

According to him, some livestock keepers in the area, who had been raising two to three cows each, were shifted to Balkot and other places by other farmers, but relocating his eight cows at a short notice was not feasible.

He also recalled that the government had earlier planned to establish an agriculture centre at the site in 2060 BS, even laying the foundation stone by clearing the filed. 

However, the plan was later scrapped after the Tribhuvan International Airport raised concerns that meat shops in the area could attract birds and pose risks to aviation safety.

Since then, Thapa said, various individuals including retired government employees had begun constructing informal shelters in the area.

“I also built a temporary house and continued my cow farming here. I have not paid rent since 2060 BS,” he said.

While supporting the government’s riverbank clearance campaign, Thapa said the sudden eviction made it extremely difficult for livestock owners. 

“I had no objection to demolition of residential structures, but managing cattle requires time. I had only requested a few days’ grace period,” he added.

He said that he is now searching for alternative spot to continue his livestock-based livelihood.