If the plan fails, the time, energy and money spent by the government on the relocation attempt is going to be futile. The government had released Rs 2.2 million to the Department of Physical Planning and Development for the first phase of construction of 48 huts for the squatters.[break]
As Prime Minister Baburm Bhattarai has asked the locals to give him 24 hours to come up with a suitable decision, the chances of the squatters shifting to the new location has become far slimmer.
“After yesterday´s clashes, the government is likely to compromise. If it is true that the prime minister has asked for 24 hours to come up with a new idea, we need to assume that the government is only trying to hoodwink us,” said Indra Lama of the squatters struggle committee. "Until and unless there is reliable security or the locals become willing to accept us, it is not possible to move there," he added.
The locals, who had gathered at the area on Sunday evening to make sure that the squatters were not taken to the huts under police escort, had ended up clashing with the police though the latter had not brought any squatters with them. The violent clash left several policemen and dozens of locals injured. Following the incident, Bhattarai on Monday met with locals for two hours.
At the meeting with the prime minster, representatives of the locals along with those of five political parties were told that the prime minister would not go against the wishes of the locals, said Chinu Basent, central committee member of Malpokhari Conservation Struggle Committee (MCSC).
“We are now protesting peacefully as the prime minister has asked us to give him 24 hours to resolve matters,” Basnet said.
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