Bajura flood victims worried as housing tranche stalls

By Sher Bahadur Sarki, Bajura, Jan.27: House construction work of families affected by floods has been stalled in Amkot of Budhiganga Municipality-1 in Bajura district as the government has failed to provide enough funds for the construction. 

According to the district administration office Bajura, the second tranche of the locals has stopped because which construction of houses has failed to be made according to the design given by the disaster authority.

The house construction work was started to establish the families displaced by the floods in Amkot with the help of the local, provincial, and federal government in the fiscal year 2079/80. 

Out of 106 households in Amkot, 85 people have received the first installment amount of 75,000, and out of the 85 people who have received the first installment amount, only 18 people have started the construction work while 67 people have not started the house construction even after receiving money.

Of the 18 people who have started to build houses, only six have completed them so far, but have been built according to the design estimate given by the disaster risk reduction authority. 

Local Kalladhari Nepali, a flood victim of Amkot of Budhiganga Municipality-1 in Bajura, said that although the house has been built as per the instructions of the technicians, the second installment has not been paid yet.

He said, "The first installment of Rs75,000 has been paid, which is just enough for buying cement and rode. I completed the construction of the house by taking a loan from villagers in the hope of paying it off later from the money of the second tranche. But so far the second installment has not been paid. This has caused me trouble. "

The estimate is designed in such a way that one rod is placed in each corner, to fix the Damp Proof Course (DPC) with two iron rods on top of the foundation and in a way that no second floor is added.

Meghnath Padhya, Chief Administrative Officer and coordinator of the District Disaster Management Committee in Bajura, said that the second installment amount will be given only after receiving a document that the house has been built according to the design given by the disaster authority, and if it differs from that, the second installment amount will not be imparted.

He said, "If the house is not built even after receiving the second installment then all wholesome amount including the first installment will also have to be returned."Currently, there are about 3,999 earthquake victims in Bajura but not enough funds for them. 

Chief District Officer Padhya said that we have requested 150 million rupees from the Ministry of Home Affairs for this.