National
Quake displaced endure 3 years in filmsy shacks
At least 80 earthquake displaced families of Selang, Gumba, Batase and Patang have been living under makeshift shelters at Baskharka, Kharigaun and Kafledanda in Jugal Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok for the past three years.Anish Tiwari
At least 80 earthquake displaced families of Selang, Gumba, Batase and Patang have been living under makeshift shelters at Baskharka, Kharigaun and Kafledanda in Jugal Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok for the past three years.
“We have been living in the tarpaulin makeshift for a long time. The tarpaulins tear up time and again. We have no other places to go,” says quake survivor Konmaya Tamang of Sepgaun. Many displaced families in Kafledanda area share the fate of Konmaya.
People living in Selang, Gumba, Batase and Patang, among other areas, were displaced after landslides triggered by the devastating quake swept away their villages. The displaced families, who are now living at Baskharka, Kharigaun and Kafledanda areas, pin hopes that the government will provide them Rs200,000 to purchase land plots.
“The government has assured us Rs200,000 to purchase land plots. I have planned to build a house after purchasing a plot,” says Shiva Bahadur Thapa, whose family along with several others have been living in old makeshift for long.
The quake survivors have to endure water seepages in their makeshift shelters during monsoon. “We don’t know how we could survive this monsoon,” says Thapa.
Top Bahadur Lama, a leader of the displaced camp, adds the condition of the displaced victims has become miserable now. The former chief executive of the National Reconstruction Authority Govinda Pokharel, during an inspected the camp in Jugal Rural Municipality, had assured the victims of a new settlement.
“Ahead of the elections, the leaders had also assured us of an integrated settlement. But having won the elections, they behaving indifferently towards us,” says Lama.
The Local Infrastructure District Planning Unit is now looking for suitable land plots to relocate the displaced victims.
“Besides Rs200,000 in government grant to purchase land plots, the displaced victims will also receive housing reconstruction aid,” said Madhav Jung Karki, chief of the unit.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of Jugal Rural Municipality Hom Narayan Shrestha has said they are purchasing land plots for 26 displaced families near Selang.