TIKAPUR, Jan 17: Despite numerous efforts of Tikapur Municipality to build settlements with earthquake-resilient houses, the people in the municipality are found constructing their houses breaching the standard and rules set by the municipality and the government.
Following the deadly earthquake of 2015, the government had introduced a new building code according to which houses must be built quake-resistant. But the locals have ignored this building code and are constructing their houses in traditional styles.
Though the municipality has been making field visits to the sites where houses are under-construction, locals have been building their houses in their own ways.
According to the municipality, field visits are not as effective as they should be due to the lack of technical manpower.
All houses look similar in Sindhuli after reconstruction
"If we had enough technical manpower, our field investigation would have been more effective," said Nabin Ojha, an engineer at the technical department of the municipality.
To get their building designs approved, locals assure the municipality office in writing that they will build their houses as per the standards and criteria set by the municipality.
However, they completely ignore it. Very few people consult with the technicians or engineers while building their houses.
"We make a lot of efforts to make sure that those who get their building designs approved from us do not breach the building code implemented by the municipality," said Roshan Shahi, an engineer of RS & Associate, Tikapur, adding, "But still few of them manage to have their own ways behind our backs."
While building house as per the criteria set by the municipal office, the locals have to spend some more money in buying quality construction materials and consulting with technicians.
This is the reason why many of them prefer building their houses in the traditional styles. This has greatly affected the campaign of the government to build quake-resilient houses.
"It would be better if people did not compromise their security just to save a few thousand rupees," said Tulasi Prasad Acharya, chief of the administration department of the municipality. Acharya further claimed that most of the houses have been built as per the criteria set by the government and only few locals have been breaching the rules.
On the occasion of the 20th Earthquake Safety Day, the municipality organized a rally in Tikapur. Speaking at the program, the stakeholders informed the locals about the measures of protecting themselves and their property from earthquake.
