Fear of landslide keeping Dalits of Bajura awake at night

By Sher Bahadur Sarki Bajura, July 3: Dalit settlement in Juwapani, Budiganda Municipality-9, Bajura district, is at high risk of landslide. The locals are now worried that the monsoon-induced disaster may displace them again after a decade.

Landslides striking from the top and in front of the houses of the locals have put the settlement at risk. Bharat Nepali, a Dalit leader of the area, said the landslide started hitting in front of the settlement due to the incessant rainfall since the Wednesday night.

The locals are now anxious about how to save their lives in the event of a disaster, he added. According to him, a total of seven people lost their lives due to the landslide that hit the settlement on the night of August 12, 2010.

Even at that time fifteen Dalit families of the settlement were displaced due to the landslide. “Landslides again started hitting from in front of the settlement. We are facing the same problem this year too,” said Nepali.

Despite the huge casualties in the past, no initiative has been taken by the authority so far to relocate the settlement, locals claimed.

Bhot Chadara, another local, said the victims of the 2010 landslide were still suffering as there was no initiative taken to find a permanent solution to save their lives.

Although 15 families of the settlement had to be relocated to other safe places, they were forced to stay in the same landslide-prone area of the settlement risking their lives.

Even after 12 years, the locals of the settlement are still awaiting relocation. The settlement should be relocated immediately as the entire settlement is prone to landslides.

“We are forced to live in the landslide-prone area as there is no other place to build our houses. After the landslide started hitting near our houses last night, we are anxious about saving our lives,” said Chadara.

Chandara said despite their repeated appeal for relocation, the local government remains indifferent toward their demands.

The District Police Office, Bajura, has urged the locals to stay vigilant.

According to the District Administration Office, Bajura, the Home Ministry has been asked to relocate the settlement to a safer place.