Bajhang earthquake victims still await second installment of housing grant

Bajhang: Earthquake-affected families in Bajhang have yet to receive the second installment of the temporary housing construction funds, leaving them in prolonged uncertainty.

In Baishakh last year, the municipality disbursed Rs 25,000 per family as the first installment to 187 earthquake-affected households. It was initially stated that the second installment would be provided upon completion of temporary housing; however, even after 17 months, the victims remain without the funds.

Some families received their first installment last Falgun, while others received it in April, but despite constructing their homes and submitting the necessary documents, they are still waiting for the next disbursement. Ram Bahadur BK of Bungal Municipality-5, Byunada, stated that many houses remain incomplete due to the lack of funds, and those who completed construction are struggling to repay the loans they borrowed for the work.

Many affected families continue to live in temporary huts as they have been unable to rebuild the homes destroyed by the earthquakes on Asoj 16 and 20, 2080. The victims lament that they have been forced to endure two consecutive winters in tents.

The Local Disaster Management Committee (LDMC) is responsible for identifying victims and updating their details in the disaster portal before the District Disaster Management Committee can process the second installment. However, the delay in completing these procedures by Bungal Municipality has caused the funds to be withheld, said Madhav Prasad Joshi, the acting Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality. Despite the municipality eventually submitting the required documents, the second installment has yet to be released.

Om Prasad Bhattarai, Chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee and Chief District Officer, clarified that the disbursement was halted due to discrepancies in the beneficiary list sent by Bungal Municipality. He stated, "Only those who received the first installment are eligible for the second. However, the municipality added new names to the list, which prevented the release of funds."

While all other municipalities in the district have received the second installment, earthquake victims in Bungal remain in limbo. To accelerate rehabilitation efforts, the government has set up a Project Implementation Unit Office in Jayaprithi Municipality-9, Deval, Bajhang. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has instructed officials to ensure private houses for earthquake-affected families are rebuilt within three months.

The earthquake that struck Bajhang on Asoj 16 and 20 last year resulted in the destruction of 4,858 houses, leaving thousands of families in desperate need of support.