KATHMANDU, July 29: The government has been too slow to relocate households at risk of landslides in the earthquake-hit districts to safer locations. The government has managed to relocate only 6,848 families from the 14 districts at the risk of landslides during monsoon, although it was supposed to relocate 19,041 families.
Last month, the cabinet had directed a high-level committee, comprising of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, and Ministry of Urban Development, to relocate risky settlements within two weeks. But even after a month, the committee is yet to speed up the task of moving locals to safer places.
Saptari to vote for reliable candidates
The committee had extended the deadline for relocating the residents of settlements at risk of landslides in the earthquake-hit districts by a week. But no remarkable progress was made during the extended period. Secretary of Home Ministry Suresh Silwal said that, as locals in many places were reluctant to move temporarily, the task of relocation could not gain momentum.
He said that the ministry has not been able to relocate risky settlements in Sindhuli, Makawanpur, Khotang and Lalitpur districts. "Around 146 families residing at landslide-prone areas have also refused to be relocated," said he.
Around 200 settlements with around 50,000 population in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Dhading, Dolakha, Gorkha, Kavre, Lamjung, Nuwakot, Okhaldhunga, Rasuwa, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchowk, Solukhumbhu, Ramechhap and Makwanpur were identified as at the risk of landslides during heavy rainfall. "Relocation process is still underway.
As the government had to manage necessary infrastructures like electricity and drinking water at temporary shelters, the relocation is taking longer than it should have," said he. Officials at the Home Ministry said it may take additional two weeks to relocate all the risky households to safer places. "Remaining 12,191 families are on the process to be relocated soon," said secretary Silwal.
