After holding discussions with experts and concerned officials, the committee asked the ministry to work in coordination with the Department of Mines and Geology to identify suitable areas for building settlements in all affected districts through land capability map and geological map."Field visits should also be made to make sure that the proposed area is fit for resettlement," the committee said in a press statement on Monday.
The committee held discussions with Minister for Land Reforms and Management Dal Bahadur Rana and experts like Pitambar Sharma, chairman of Nepal Geological Society and former vice chairman of National Planning Commission, among others.
Experts have underlined the need to make proper assessment of quake-hit districts which have seen multiple landslides after the quake keeping in view the monsoon which started this week.
The committee has directed the government to carry out reconstruction activities only in areas identified by MoLRM and allocated needful resources accordingly. It also decided the government to take decision on relocation of quake-affected villages at the earliest.
Experts also advised the government to review Land Use Policy 2012 as large swathes of land have been damaged by the earthquake. The meeting asked the ministry to table draft of amendment to the policy within 15 days. It also directed the ministry to put in place necessary legal arrangements to prepare Land Use Map as envisioned in the Land Use Policy.""The ministry should put preparation of land use map in priority"" the statement added.
An 18-member team of experts mobilized by the Department of Mines and Geology has already recommended for relocation of 43 settlements in six quake-affected districts to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). However, MoHA was not satisfied with the report. It has asked the team to prepared detailed report of the geological study.
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