KATHMANDU, Oct 9: The government will build and hand over 50 temporary prefabricated houses to Bhotekoshi flood victims before Phulpati, the seventh day of Dashain, according to the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC).
DUDBC Director General Dilip Bhandari said land preparation was underway and construction would begin within a day or two.
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Each house is estimated to cost around Rs 600,000, putting the total cost for 50 houses at approximately Rs 30 million. The government will finance the project through the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund.
Around 100 ropanis of land near the colonies of the Department of Irrigation and the Nepal Electricity Authority in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, has been allocated to flood victims. They will be able to live there until permanent houses are built.
The DUDBC estimates that around 600 houses will be needed in the long term, down from an earlier estimate of 1,200.
The government is also preparing separate guidelines for permanent housing. Options under discussion include financial assistance for those who own land, support for land purchases, and other financial assistance for those without land.
According to the DUDBC, the floods damaged 7,570 government, public and private buildings across 15 local units in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts.
