Kathmandu, September
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chief Whip Kabindra Burlakoti has said that settlements along riverbanks need to be relocated and managed.
Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives, he said the government faced strong criticism when it removed settlements from riverbanks.
“The government was heavily criticised when it removed settlements along riverbanks. The government also endured the criticism. There may have been some shortcomings in the process of relocating the settlements, and there may be areas that need improvement,” he said. “But looking at the Bhotekoshi flood of August 26 and the floods of September 26 and 27, everyone has now realised that settlements along riverbanks need to be relocated.”
He said many settlements still remain along riverbanks and need to be managed.
“There are still many settlements along riverbanks. If they are not managed in time, we will face a major risk again,” he said. “We have also built our bridges too low, apparently under the influence of commissions. I urge the government to reassess all these issues and move forward accordingly.”
