Dhankuta, April 2

Construction of houses meant for poor families under the People’s Residence Programme of the government has been left in the lurch due to lack of budget in Dhankuta.

Construction of houses for 14 Mahji families in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality was not completed on time due to budget crunch.   As many as 50 houses of Dalits, Majhi and Aathpahariya Rai, among others, are being constructed under the People’s Residence Programme in Dhankuta

The construction of houses was left in limbo after beneficiaries did not get the third and fourth instalment of the housing grant.

People’s Residence Programme, Kushetar, Chair Renuka Majhi said there was no possibility of providing the remaining instalments of the housing grant any time soon. The federal government had started the programme for people of impoverished and backward communities two years ago, but now the federal government has handed over the programme to provincial governments. It is said the provincial government has failed to release budget for the programme.

Meanwhile, Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office, Dhankuta, also said the provincial government had yet to release the budget for the programme.