Dailekh, September 7
Namuna Basti in Narayan Municipality-1, Dailekh, is at high risk of landslides following continuous rainfall.
Eight families comprising 37 people have been displaced after a landslide began affecting the settlement on Sunday night following heavy rain. A team of police deployed from the District Police Office, Dailekh, under the command of Police Inspector Rishikesh Gautam Harijan, rescued the affected residents in coordination with local representatives.
The displaced residents have been sheltered at the vegetable collection centre in the same ward. The settlement, home to 65 Badi families and located on a steep slope, faces the risk of widespread damage if even one house is buried by a landslide. Residents remain fearful after Rupa Badi, her daughter Sapana and son Bishnu were killed in a landslide in the past.
One of the displaced residents, Kamala, said families have repeatedly been forced to take shelter at the jail, veterinary centre and vegetable collection centre whenever flooding and landslides occur. She said they would not return to the old settlement until they were permanently relocated.
Narayan Municipality-1 Ward Chairperson Sandesh Shrestha said the affected area was inspected and discussions were held with residents and community leaders. “Considering the current rainfall situation, we have discussed a long-term solution. The Badi community will be relocated elsewhere so that the landslide risk that has persisted for years can be eliminated,” Shrestha said.
He said the Badi families had already received identification documents from the Land Commission and that the process for their permanent resettlement would be expedited. Dailekh Chief District Officer Anand Sharu said the administration was ready to help permanently settle the Badi community if the local government moved the process forward quickly. “If they are landless, the municipality should expedite the process. We will help find land,” Sharu said. “Insisting that the Badi community must be given land only in a place of their choice is not consistent with state policy.”
Sharu said he had inspected disaster-affected areas across Dailekh and found that local governments had been slow in carrying out their responsibilities. He urged them to coordinate with the Land Commission to identify land for distributing land ownership certificates.
—RSS
