Raskot develops model settlement to relocate disaster-prone families

By Our Correspondent

Kalikot, Aug 24 : Raskot Municipality in Kalikot has developed its first model settlement to relocate households in disaster-prone areas. The municipality has constructed a model settlement at Rohote in Raskot Municipality-7. 

The Municipal Council had identified Rohote for the construction of a model settlement with the aim of relocating the risky settlements to the safer place.

Initially, it was said that 100 families of ward-7 would be selected and the same number of houses would be constructed. However, as the land acquisition and construction works were all done at the same time, the construction of only 73 households has been completed so far. 

Former ward chairman of Raskot Municipality-7 Adal Singh Mahatara said that the municipality had asked the ward to identify the land for the construction of a safe settlement. 

“It took us almost a year to identify the safer place. The construction work of the settlement was further delayed due to lack of skilled manpower,” he said. “If the construction is not completed within this financial year, the municipality will take back the budget. So the families are hastily building the houses,” said Mahara. 

He further said a single family has been provided only Rs. 500,000 to buy the land and construct the house. But the provided aid is inadequate for poor families to construct their houses. 

The provincial government has released Rs. 500 million. Along with government aid, citizens themselves were asked to spend money for their house.  Acting chief administrative officer of Raskot Municipality, Jawansingh Bam, said that the municipality had only paid the amount to those families who have completed the construction of the house. So far, Rs.360 million has been paid. 

The settlement has a drinking water facility.