Lack of use of houses built for poor people

By Liladhar Oli, Gorahi, Sept.13: As many as 12 houses were built for the poor and destitute people in 2018 at Murkuti and Kamirechaur under Banglachuli Rural Municipality -7.  Eight houses in Murkuti and four houses in Kamirechaur, making a total of 12 houses, with two rooms built, of which, two houses in Murkuti and four houses in Kamirechaur hold human settlements. 

Kamala Gharti Magar, a local said, "Houses there is human existence are in good condition because of care and cleanliness, but vacant houses are dilapidating. Walls of houses are getting cracked; doors and windows are breaking down."

She said that the reason for building houses was to give them to poor people, who lack land and home of their own, but the government's investment has gone to vain for lack of the preservation of houses."

She said, "The intention behind building these houses was good, but these houses should have been put to use."

There are no windows and doors in six houses ult in Hashipur. Being unable to put the use of these houses has led to the destruction of two houses while the windows and doors of the remaining houses are broken.

Jhabindra Gaha Magar, ward chair of the Banglachuli Rural Municipality-8, said that some delinquent people as well as people grazing their cattle in the jungle are responsible for the breakage and destruction of houses.  

The house would have been preserved if we were able to identify the people in need of houses, but, no one was willing to reside in those houses which has led to depletion and crumbling down of houses.

He said, " Houses are not built in places suitable for habitat because of which people prefer not to stay in those houses leading to houses being vacant. The reason for houses being vacant is lack of the build in the suitable places for human survival."

According to him, after the people in need of houses refused to stay, students of Secondary School in Hashipur used it as a hotel. However, some students got sick leading to others walking out on staying in those houses.

Bhakta Bahadur GC, deputy ward chair at Banglachuli Rural municipality said besides houses in wards 5 and 8, other houses are in good condition.

He said, " Not only it is the responsibility of the ward to take care of these houses but also it is the responsibility of citizens to take care of houses built by the investment of government, but, failing to do so by all has led to dilapidated of houses.

In the fiscal year 2018/19, 30 earthquake-resistant houses with tow rooms were built in five places in Bangalachuli Rural Municipality under the Nauma Settlement Scheme. There is an investment of Rs 2 million from the government and a million from the Banglachul Rural Municipality, but, lack of use and good care of them has led to houses getting dilapidated.

Locals said that houses are not built in suitable places for settlement there most of the houses have remained vacant. 12 houses are built in wards 5, 6-6 houses in wards 2,6 and 8. Of the total 30 houses, only 11 houses have human settlement.