Lamjung quake victims still awaiting government grant

Lamjung, July 8

As many as 40 victims of the 2015 earthquakes are still living in makeshift tents as they wait for the government relief amount at Dordi Rural Municipality in Lamjung.

The quake victims had started to construct their houses with the first instalment of the government grant, but they could not complete the remaining work as they did not receive the second instalment.

Bhim Raj Tamang, a local, said he had completed some construction work with the first instalment. “But the remaining work has come to a total stop as I have yet to get the second instalment,” he added.

Suk Maya Tamang, a single woman,  said she had not started constructing her house even though she received the first instalment. “I am alone and cannot find workers,” she said. Suk Maya said technicians have yet to pay a visit to her house. She complained that the government did not pay any attention to what the victims have gone through those three dreadful monsoons. The victims said authority concerned should provide the second instalment soon so they could complete the remaining construction work.

Om Bahadur Gurung, chair of Dordi Rural Municipality said the problems occurred due to lack of technicians in the rural municipality office. He said two engineers and four overseers were working in the office. District Coordination Committee Chief Lok Raj Pandey said the victims faced problems after the authority did not deploy sufficient engineers to the district. “Reconstruction work could not gain momentum due to the lack of construction materials and expert manpower in remote areas,” he added.

As many as 3,191 quake victims received the second instalment in Lamjung.