GORKHA, Oct 7: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today laid the foundation stone for construction of the model settlement at Laprak of Gorkha amidst a ceremony held here. 

The PM laid the foundation stone for the Laprak Model Settlement to be built by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) at Gupsipakha. 

On the occasion, PM Dahal said the government has given special priority to post-quake reconstruction and stressed on support of people from all walks of life in it. "We have provided you the right to use the land property, but later we will provide you the right for its ownership," he said. 

The locals of Laprak had been living in the Gupsipakha jungle under temporary shelters after their entire village was levelled during last year's massive earthquake. Gupsipakha has 617 temporary shelters. NRNA has vowed to build houses for all the locals of Laprak. 

During the PM's visit, the locals put forth a host of demands that include the facilities of house, road, electricity and drinking water. 

At the program, VDC Secretary, Dhruba Raj Parajuli, presented the PM with a memorandum with the Laprak villagers' demands, CPN (Maoist Centre) Laprak leader, Marsingh Gurung said. 

Gurung added that the villagers have demanded blacktopping the Barpak, Laprak, Gumda and Machakhola road. 

The PM responded by pledging to make arrangement for blacktopping the road. The villagers have been pressing the government to build other essential infrastructure when rebuilding their homes during the post-quake reconstruction drive. RSS