Call for declaring Dhulikhel a ‘crisis-hit zone’

Kavrepalanchowk, Oct 28: Dhilkhel municipality has demanded the government declare it as a ‘crisis-hit zone’ following a huge loss amounting to Rs 1 billion due to recent floods and landslides.

A delegation of the people’s representatives, including Dhulikhel mayor Ashok Byanju called on Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak demanding to declare Dhulikhel a ‘crisis-hit area’. The delegation submitted a memorandum to DPM Singh and Home Minister Lekhak to draw their attention to declaring the municipality a disaster-hit area.

In the third week of October, the federal government declared 11 out of 13 local governments in Kavre as crisis-hit zones excluding Dhulikhel and Banepa. Mayor Byanju shared that he briefed Deputy Prime Minister Singh and Home Minister Lekhak about the situation in Dhulikhel and the role to be played by the government in post-disaster reconstruction and recovery. According to him, the memorandum has drawn the government’s attention to the reconstruction of wastewater treatment centres at Thakurigaun, Vandol and Itol of Dhulikhel.

Byanju further shared the government’s attention has also been drawn to facilitate the loss of Dhulikhel drinking water, Kavre integrated drinking water, roads, schools and other structures. It may be noted that a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee held in recently has decided to declare the entire Kavrepalanchowk as crisis-hit.

According to preliminary data from the municipal office, 64 houses have been completely damaged and 572 houses partially damaged. Meanwhile, Dhulikhel municipality has demanded the German government to rebuild the Dhulikhel Drinking Water Project. The municipality made the proposal after meeting German Ambassador to Nepal Dr Thomas Prinz on Saturday. It is estimated that Rs 35.1 million will be spent to rebuild the drinking water project, which has been in operation for nearly three decades.

During the meeting, Ambassador Prinz pledged to extend all possible support for the reconstruction of drinking water, mayor Byanju said. —RSS