41 teams for geological study

Kathmandu, June 2: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Thursday mobilized 11 technical teams for the geological study of the quake-affected settlement that are at high risk after the devastating earthquake last year rocked the mid-hill region of central and eastern region of the country.

Dr. Chandra Bahadur Shrestha, executive member of the NRA, informed that the reconstruction body was planning to send about 41 teams for the geological study of the various locations in the districts severely-hit by the quake.

“We formed 11 teams by including the experts from various government agencies and experts will be outsourced for the rest of the teams. Other teams will be mobilized soon,” he said.

The teams are being led by the senior geologist from the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG).

Although the government was planning to conclude the geological study of the settlements at risk by the end of April, it could manage to mobilize the teams more than 13 months after the first major jolt hit the country.

The NRA maintained that the delay was due to lack of experts and the reconstruction body’s engagement in relief distribution and repeated data collection works.

However, lawmakers from the quake hit areas blamed the government for its inefficiency to conduct study in time.

The government has mobilized the teams after conducting pilot geological study at Singati of Dolakha district.

A four-member team, comprised of two geologists from the DMG and one representative each from the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP) and Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM), conducted the study at Singati in April.

According to NRA, the pilot study was conducted to develop a modality for the geological study of all settlements that are at risk could be developed.

The study teams will decide whether the settlements are safe, needed pre-cautionary measures or demanded urgent relocation. They will create site-maps of the quake-ravaged areas, informed Dr. Shrestha.

The study of Singati concluded that there was no immediate need for the relocation of settlements but retaining walls should be constructed to save some structures and areas. 

An earlier observation, in the aftermath of the major tremors, by a team of geologists, chief district officers and lawmakers of respective districts found at least 193 settlements needed immediate relocation.

Gorkha, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Dhading and Singhupalchowk had many settlements vulnerable to post-quake hazards.

The new study will be based on the findings of the earlier study and make further investigations, informed the NRA. 

About one and a half months ago the NRA formulated two committees - Expert Committee and Steering Committee - to study and suggest the reconstruct body on the relocation of the quake-ravaged settlements that are at the risk of landslides and other disasters.

The Authority formulated an Expert Committee led by its Directive Committee member Dr. Taranidhi Bhattarai to facilitate and provide expert opinion on the study for relocation of the settlements that are at risk.

The reconstruction body had directed the DMG to submit the proposal along with required structure of the team, human resources, budget details and study process and methods to the NRA to complete the field observation and study before the monsoon.