Forest office functioning from earthquake-damaged building

By Our Correspondent,Jajarkot, June 25: The Sub-Division Forest Office (SDFO) in Jajarkot has been providing services from an earthquake-damaged building due to delays in reconstruction. 

The Nalgad Sub-Division Forest Office, located in Nalgad Municipality-7, Dalli, has been operating from the same building despite it being declared unsafe following the earthquake.

Nearly 20 months have passed since the earthquake, yet reconstruction has not begun, creating operational challenges for the office. The building was severely damaged in the earthquake that struck on the night of November 3, 2023, with its epicentre at Ramidanda, Barekot-1, Jajarkot. 

 Concerned authorities have not taken steps towards reconstruction, leaving the situation in limbo.

Before the earthquake, the SDFO provided services from its own building, and even now, services are being delivered from the same damaged structure.

The office staff have been living in a rented house in Chepka, Nalgad Municipality-2, as the government has failed to rebuild government office buildings, although a long time has elapsed since the earthquake, forcing them to live in cramped rented spaces.

According to Aja Rawal, Information Officer at the Division Forest Office, a budget for maintenance was allocated last year through the Building and Housing Reconstruction Technical Office. An evaluation concluded that full reconstruction was required, and funds have been allocated accordingly, raising hopes that reconstruction work will commence soon.

The building, already cracked by the earthquake, has been further weakened by continuous rainfall and is now at risk of collapse. Despite this, the office continues to provide services from the same structure.

According to Santosh Shrestha, Head of the Nalgad Sub-Division Forest Office, services are being provided from the damaged building as the relevant authorities and local government have been reluctant to initiate reconstruction efforts.

Since the earthquake rendered the building uninhabitable, office operations have been greatly affected. The Nalgad Sub-Division Forest Office has already submitted a formal request for building reconstruction through the Division Forest Office to the Ministry.

With the building on the verge of collapse during prolonged rainfall, staff are often forced to vacate the office for their safety. Before the earthquake, service delivery from the office building was smooth and convenient. However, after the earthquake caused severe cracks, it has become impossible to remain inside even during office hours.

Delays in the reconstruction of government buildings have created difficulties for both service providers and service seekers. As services continue from the risky building, there is often a risk of losing important documents.