Hetauda, July 20

Of the total earthquake victims across the district, 69 households have received the first instalment of the state-pledged housing grant in Makawanpur so far.

Of the total 11 quake-affected districts, Makawanpur is the only district where the process of distributing the grant has begun.

According to official data, there are 30,238 households listed as tremor victims in the district. Of them, the government has signed contract with 1,480 households till date.

The delay is said to have to do with the district development committee, which failed to initiate the process in time. “At a time when contract signing has virtually concluded in the adjoining district Ramechhap, the same has barely been initiated here, which is unfortunate,” said a quake victim.

The government has deployed three employees in each of the 37 centres set up in Thaha Municipality, Hetauda sub-metropolis and 35 other village development committees for the contract-signing process.

DDC Makawanpur staff and village secretaries have blamed LDO Laxman Bikram Thapa and his tardy work for the delay.