No infrastructure in risky areas

Kathmandu, June 15: Government agencies involved in the post-quake reconstruction Thursday came to a conclusion that no development works or construction of new infrastructures would not be carried out in the settlements facing landslide risk.

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Department of Mines and Geology (DMG), Department of Soil and Watershed, Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention, Department of Roads and Department of Irrigation have come to this conclusion after a joint meeting at Singha Durbar.

The NRA said in a statement that as the process to relocate the settlements at risk was begun, no infrastructures would be developed in those areas.

Studies carried out by the NRA and DMG have found that about 136 settlements are at risk as the Gorkha Earthquake had weakened the geology in the hills.

“Out of them, 60 settlements should be relocated fully while in the rest of the settlements, only a few families should be moved to new places,” said chief survey officer of the Land Management and Geological Study Section at the NRA Kamal Ghimire.

There are 2,361 households in those villages.

The government has decided to provide Rs. 200,000 to the families in the risk areas to buy land to construct house.

NRA chief executive officer Dr. Govinda Raj Pokarel said that the reconstruction body had been started a process to relocate five settlements – Kerauja of Gorkha, Selang of Sindhupalchowk, Khalte of Rasuwa, Urleni of Nuwakot and Besimpa of Dolakha district - and develop model villages.

Settlements in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorakha, Sindhupalchow, Dolakha, Dhading, Lalitpur, Makawanpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts were found to be at risk.

Likewise, some villages in Chitwan, Lamjung, Solukhumb and Tanahun districts should also be relocated.