Sindhupalchowk locals decry delay in distribution of cash relief

SINDHUPALCHOWK, June 4: Tanka Karki, a Nepali Congress leader, does not feel comfortable visiting the quake-hit villages of Sindhupalchowk district. But as a political leader he cannot avoid it either.

"When will we receive relief? If the government is unable to support quake victims, why did it announce relief packages in the first place? Why did you come to us empty-handed?" Quake-hit locals ask Karki whenever he visits the villages. Other than asking the quake victims to keep patience, Karki has no answer for the quake victims' questions.

"Monsoon is drawing closer and earthquake victims need shelter," he said.Quake-affected locals have expressed ire over the government authorities' failure to effectively distribute relief funds.

Sindhupalchowk is the district worst-hit by recent earthquake. Due to procedural hassles, locals are unlikely to receive government fund to build temporary shelter before the monsoon begins.

Earlier, the government had allocated and decided to distribute Rs 15,000 to each household whose house was destroyed in the earthquake. One and a half weeks have already elapsed since the government released fund for the quake victims in the district. However, the District Disaster Relief Committee is delaying cash relief due to lack of clear criteria regarding its distribution.

Amid controversies, the district authorities have been distributing cash relief to the quake victims of Irkhu, Thulo Siruwari, Ramche and Jethal since last Monday.

At the same pace, it is unlikely for the authorities to distribute cash relief to quake victims in the remaining 68 VDCs and two municipalities before the monsoon begins.

With the start of monsoon, road networks connecting the villages are likely to be obstructed due to landslides. It will add to woes of the quake-affected whose houses have been destroyed in the quake.

The DDRC estimates the recent earthquake has collapsed 66,000 houses out of total 67,000 in the district. The actual data of collapsed houses is yet to be collected by the authority.

Meanwhile, Local Development Officer (LDO) Mahesh Baral, who is also member secretary of DDRC, informed that the district has received around Rs 200 million to distribute to the quake victims.

"The government fund sent to the district is insufficient," said he. "Moreover, distributing cash relief to the quake victims on time is challenging. We're trying our best."

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