NRA begins listing households at risk

Kathmandu, Aug. 28: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has started listing the quake-affected families in the settlements said to be ‘risky’ in the beneficiaries list.

The reconstruction body has identified 136 settlements at risk of landslides and other natural hazards due to the weakened geology following the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015.

A recent meeting of the NRA Steering Committee listed 17 households of Ganga Jamuna Rural Municipality of Dhading district as beneficiaries.

According to the NRA, Lbek Lama, Nem Bahadur Tamang, Sutman Tamang, Bal Bahadur Tamang and Cham Bahadur Tamang in Ri village of Ganga Jamuna are included in the list.

Similarly, quake-affected families of ward No. 2 of the same rural municipality – Ram Bahadur Tamang, Shirwa Tamang, Gang Bahadur Tamang, Pharwa Lama Tamang, Dai Bahadur Tamang, Rakse Lama Tamang, Manoj Tamang, Jal Bahadur Tamang, Deme Lama Tamang, Sun Bahadur Tamang, Amrit Tamang and Khamba Lama Tamang – found their names in the list.

Families that are willing to move to a safer location from the risky settlements are entitled to a Rs. 200,000 government grant, which will be provided following the recommendation of the NRA.

Land management for those that are not willing to move from such locations will be taken care of by the Chief District Officer (CDOs) of the respective district.

NRA Spokesperson Yam Lal Bhoosal said that the reconstruction body had already directed the CDOs to work accordingly.

“The listing of 17 households as beneficiaries marks the beginning of the process to relocate the families in the risky areas to safer locations,” said Bhoosal.

Those families will receive Rs. 200,000 for land management and Rs. 300,000 in housing grant.

According to the NRA, of the 136 settlements identified as ‘risky’, 60 need complete relocation while the rest will be partially relocated.

There are 2,361 households in these settlements.

The reconstruction body has started the process to build ‘integrated model villages’ by relocating five settlements at risk in five districts – Kerauja of Gorkha, Selang of Sindhupalchowk, Khalte of Rasuwa, Urleni of Nuwakot and Bosimpa of Dolakha district.

Consultants have already been mobilised in the respective districts to facilitate in and expedite the relocation process.