SATV Mar. 9, Kathmandu: Earthquake-affected families in the Bungal Municipality of Bajhang district are yet to receive the second installment for the construction of temporary shelters.
Last year in April/May, the municipality provided an initial installment of Rs. 25,000 per family to 187 affected households. However, despite assurances that the second installment would be disbursed after the completion of temporary housing, 17 months have passed and the victims have not received the amount.
Some affected families received the first installment in February/March and April/May, but the second installment is still pending. Many earthquake victims have submitted the required documents to the municipality after constructing temporary shelters, yet they remain unpaid.
According to Ram Bahadur BK, a resident of Ward No. 5, the delay in receiving the second installment has left many temporary shelters incomplete, while those who have finished construction are unable to repay their loans.
Families whose homes were destroyed in the earthquake on October 3 and 7 last year are still forced to live in temporary shelters. The victims say they have endured two harsh winters in these makeshift shelters.
Fearing they may never receive the second installment, some earthquake victims have migrated to India in search of work, said Karna Jagri of Raiseli in Bungal Municipality-2.
Why is the second installment delayed?
The Local Disaster Management Committee (LDMC) is responsible for identifying earthquake-affected beneficiaries and entering their details into the disaster portal. After this, the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) must request the second installment of funds. However, Bungal Municipality failed to complete the necessary procedures on time as per the Temporary Housing Grant Guidelines, 2023.
While the municipality later fulfilled the requirements and submitted a request, it has yet to receive funds from the District Disaster Management Committee, said Madhav Prasad Joshi, the acting Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality.
Due to the lack of clear documentation from Bungal Municipality, the second installment has been withheld, said Om Prasad Bhattarai, Chief District Officer and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee.
"Only those who received the first installment are eligible for the second. However, Bungal Municipality included additional beneficiaries in the list, causing delays in disbursement," he said, “Once Bungal Municipality provides a clear list, we will process the payment."
To accelerate the rehabilitation process of earthquake victims, the government has established an Implementation Unit Office in Dewal of Jayaprithvi Municipality-9, Bajhang. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has directed officials to complete the reconstruction of private houses for earthquake victims within three months. The earthquakes on October 3 and 7 left 4,858 houses damaged in Bajhang.
