Kathmandu, Oct 9: The government is racing to complete 50 prefabricated houses for families displaced by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood, aiming to move them into temporary homes before Phulpati, the seventh day of Dashain.
The houses will serve as a model for temporary settlements as authorities work on a larger rehabilitation plan for hundreds of families who lost their homes in the Aug 26 disaster.
Department of Urban Development and Building Construction Director General Dilip Bhandari said workers were preparing the construction site and building work would start within a day or two.
Each prefabricated house is expected to cost about Rs 600,000, taking the total cost of the first 50 units to around Rs 30 million. The money will come from the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund.
The government has set aside about 100 ropanis of land near colonies belonging to the Department of Irrigation and Nepal Electricity Authority in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot. Displaced families will be allowed to stay there until permanent homes are built.
The department now estimates that around 600 houses will eventually be required, half its initial estimate of 1,200 units.
Authorities are also drafting separate guidelines for permanent reconstruction. The government is considering different forms of support based on the situation of individual families. Those who still own safe land could receive financial assistance to rebuild, while families who lost their land or no longer have suitable plots could receive help to purchase land.
The housing program is part of a wider reconstruction effort following the Bhotekoshi flood, which caused extensive destruction along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors.
According to the department, 7,570 government, public and private buildings were damaged across 15 local governments in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan.
The flood also swept away roads, bridges and other infrastructure, leaving the government facing a major reconstruction task beyond housing alone.
Login to add a comment