Ancient civilisastions developed along riverbanks owing to several factors such as fertile soil for agriculture, fresh water for drinking and other purposes, food supply in the form of fish and other aquatic animals and easy transport. The Mesopotamian Civilisation, Egyptian Civilisation, Indus Valley Civilisation and Ancient China Civilisation all developed along riverbanks. The Mesopotamian Civilisation flourished along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the Egyptian Civilisation along the Nile River, the Indus Valley Civilisation along the Indus River and the Ancient China Civilisation along the Huangho or Yellow River.
Riverside settlements have developed since time immemorial. Although there are advantages, riverside settlements are not without risks. Floods are considered the greatest risk; when settlements are washed away, nothing remains in the name of shelter. Besides, there may be other issues such as land erosion or subsidence owing to proximity to rivers, development of slum areas and pollution. Using contaminated water directly from rivers may give rise to various kinds of diseases. So managing riverside settlements is essential to strike a balance between the restoration of riverside corridors and safety from floods and other untoward events.
Illegal structures
Riverside settlements could be managed but the government of Nepal chose to demolish illegal structures along the Bagmati River and its tributaries in March 2026, arguing that this move would reduce monsoon flood risks, widen areas for the flow of rivers and help in reclaiming encroached government land. Around 2,700 structures were pulled down, displacing over 15,000 residents from 19 riverbank settlements at Thapathali, Balkhu. Kapan and other places. The displaced families were given a rehabilitation allowance of Rs. 25,000 each and promised a housing allowance of Rs. 15,000 per month for three months. They are now living in holding centres at such places as Ichangu, Kirtipur and Bode. The government is planning to provide genuine landless squatters with land ownership certificates. Until the process is finished, the displaced people are expected to stay in holding centres.
It may be noted that the government cannot keep the displaced people in holding centres forever. And when the process of granting them land ownership certificates is completed is in the womb of time. The move of the government to demolish illegally built makeshift structures without making any plans for the resettlement of the displaced people met with public backlash. The Supreme Court also stepped on the scene. The government then halted the demolition drive in other parts of the country, asserting that the demolition of illegal structures would not be resorted to without identifying genuine landless squatters and formulating better plans for relocation or resettlement so that the displaced people might not be stranded.
Ekistic experts are of the view that Nepal needs science, not politics, to manage riverside settlements. The demolition of settlements without proper planning for relocation or resettlement will create problems for the people living there. Their investments will go down the drain, adding to their economic woes. On the other hand, it will put an additional financial burden on the government. Moreover, the government will have to pay attention to healthcare, psychological counselling and social security for the displaced people, especially the vulnerable individuals such as children, women and the elderly.
The government will have to manage rubble on the one hand, while on the other it will have to spend big on relocation or resettlement. The Bagmati Civilisation Integrated Development Committee has proposed a 3-billion budget to construct parks, walkways and green spaces in the cleared areas along the Bagmati River and its tributaries. Riverside settlements can be protected from natural disasters like floods. Nature-based solutions such as the construction of vegetation buffer zones along riverbanks can be adopted. This will increase water infiltration and reduce peak stormwater runoff. Flood-control mechanisms like levees and dykes can be constructed along rivers. Likewise, good drainage systems and proper setbacks will play a role in flood control.
The imposition of setbacks of up to 40 meters from riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley kicked up an uproar in the recent past. In fact, a flood can travel more than this distance. A flood can travel from a riverbank from a few meters to tens of kilometers depending on the local geography and its severity. In flat plains and lowlands, a flood can travel from 10 to 50 kilometers from a riverbank as they have no natural hills or elevations. In city areas, a flood can travel up to 5 kilometers. A flood can also submerge an entire city.
Submersion
In the Kathmandu Valley, submersion has emerged as a problem. Many areas are submerged after heavy rain. This is because of the concretisation of structures and improper drainage systems. This prevents rainwater from being soaked into the ground. Further, because of breached or trash-clogged drains, many places are overwhelmed with rainwater. The construction of corridors along the rivers that have shrunk has added another problem. Such parts of the rivers should have been left untouched.
There are many riverside settlements that need to be either demolished or upgraded. The government should choose upgrading over demolition or forcible eviction. For this, infrastructure development is a must. Road networks should be expanded, decentralised sanitation should be adopted and public utilities systems should be in place. If need be, structures on stilts can be built for protection from flooding. This will help preserve local economies on the one hand, while on the other housing tenure may be secured for the people living there, safeguarding their livelihoods and preserving the identity of their neighbourhoods. It may be noted that Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals emphasises that cites and human settlements should be made inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Accordingly, the government should take action and manage riverside and informal settlements.
(Maharjan has been regularly writing on contemporary issues for this daily since 2000.)
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