Humla landslide-displaced families get new houses

By Rajan Raut,Humla, Dec. 2: A total of 180 households affected by a landslide in Humla district got new houses with metal roofs. 

Most of the houses in the Khurpanath Rural Municipality were destroyed by landslides a year ago. 

The houses were constructed within six months with the financial support of the Karnali Province government.

Manasinge Damai, a landslide victim of Thali village of Rural Municipality-2, said that he was happy to move to a new house with metal roof. Earlier, he was living in a flimsy house made of mud which was brought down by a landslide that hit the settlement in last week of October last year. 

Before shifting to the newly constructed house, he was living in a tent with the other families.  Jai Rawal, another local who got a new house, said that he was excited to live in a safe house. He moved to the new house just three days ago. 

Rural Municipality Chairman Karna Bahadur Rawal said that 180 houses have been constructed in six months and the victims are now able to live there. Arrangements have been made for a three-room house with a toilet and drinking water facilities. 

Chief Minister of Karnali Province Jeevan Bahadur Shahi also arranged the budget for the construction from the settlement expansion programme. He also inspected the settlement recently. 

Bishnu Bahadur Shahi, the chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, said that the construction work of the new houses has been completed with an investment of Rs. 8,95,000 per house. 

He added that they had also carried out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the construction of the settlement.