RUKUM, March 25: With the objective of protecting and promoting traditional housing , Sisne Rural Municipality has decided to provide financial aid to people building thatched houses.
Kumari Baral, chairperson of the rural municipality, informed that people building such houses will be provided with financial help of Rs. 7,000. The decision is aimed at attracting more tourists. With more people building homes with zinc and stone roofs, thatched houses have become a rare sight. "With the improvement in living standards, zinc and stone roofing has overshadowed thatched houses," said Chairperson Baral, adding,"some have even switched to ferro-concrete houses. So, we have decided to conserve thatched houses."
She informed that a settlement will be created with rows of thatched houses . This campaign will start from next fiscal year. Currently, most houses in Sisne have zinc and stone roofing. "We will make sure that no house in the settlement has a zinc or stone roof, so that it will look beautiful even from a distance," Baral added.
The traditional houses are fine pieces of craft and must be preserved, stated Baral. "Such housing will also develop a sense of solidarity among the locals," said Bir Bahadur Shahi, himself a local. According to him, the rural municipality should give priority to this.
1,874 thatched-roof houses to be replaced with zinc roof houses...