KATHMANDU, Sept. 23: The government is preparing to restrict the construction of permanent houses and concrete structures in areas inundated by the Bhotekoshi flood on August 26, after an initial study found that floodwaters rose as high as 250 meters above the river level at some locations.
The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) has proposed prohibiting permanent construction in areas reached by the flood and requiring new buildings to be constructed at least 250 to 300 meters above the river level.
The flood reached unusually high levels at several locations, causing significant loss of life and property, according to experts.
An internal study by DUDBC engineers found that floodwaters rose 170 to 180 meters above the river level in Rasuwagadhi, 200 meters in Ghattekhola and up to 70 meters in Timure. The water rose 200 meters in both Lingling and Syabru, 220 meters in Hakubesi, and up to 250 meters in Mailung and Uttargaya.
“We have understood from our preliminary study and accounts from local eyewitnesses that the Bhotekoshi flood reached up to 250 meters above the river level in some places,” said DUDBC Director General Rabindra Bohara. “Permanent buildings and houses can no longer be constructed in areas reached by the river’s flow. To ensure the safety of new buildings, houses will have to be built at least 250 to 300 meters above the river level.”
According to Bohara, the flood rose much higher in narrower sections of the river, while the water level was comparatively lower in wider sections.
1,200 families need permanent homes
The DUDBC said permanent homes now need to be built for 1,200 families displaced by the flood. It has prepared three housing models estimated to cost Rs 600,000, Rs 800,000 and Rs 1 million, respectively.
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The government has formed a central committee under Department of Survey (DoS) Director General Prakash Joshi to identify suitable land for relocating flood victims and constructing temporary shelters.
District-level committees have also been formed under the central committee and have begun work according to their assigned responsibilities. Representatives from the respective district survey offices, land administration offices and local governments are members of the committees.
The DUDBC is also preparing to amend its existing procedures to facilitate the construction of permanent homes for Bhotekoshi flood victims.
According to the DUDBC, the flood destroyed 7,570 government, public and private buildings in 15 local units across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts.
Around 2,000 displaced families are currently staying in various holding centers, according to the DUDBC. Officials said the number fluctuates as some families occasionally leave the centers to stay with relatives.
Bridge designs also set for overhaul
The extreme floodwaters also damaged numerous bridges along the Bhotekoshi, with some completely swept away.
Engineers at the Department of Roads (DoR) are now working on plans to revise bridge designs for rivers and streams in mountainous areas to make them more resilient to extreme floods.
According to a field-based technical report prepared by the DoR, 41 of the 63 bridges in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river areas were swept away by the flood. Three other bridges suffered structural damage, while 19 remained intact.
The report said the flood also devastated the national highway considered a major trade lifeline with China, as well as local feeder roads.
The road connecting Betrabati in Rasuwa to Mailung and onward to Syabrubesi-Rasuwagadhi has been completely damaged. Around 40 kilometers of road in Rasuwa alone was destroyed.
According to the report, there were 63 bridges along this strategic section, including 53 under the DoR and 10 under private hydropower projects and local governments.
3,279 ropanis identified for relocation
A total of 3,279 ropanis of land has been identified for relocating Bhotekoshi flood victims to safer areas.
The committee led by DoS Director General Prakash Joshi identified the land after consultations with local government officials and submitted its report to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration on Tuesday.
According to Land Ministry Secretary Madan Bhujel, the report was forwarded to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development the same day for implementation.
“We identified the land. The responsibility for developing infrastructure on that land lies with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development,” Bhujel said. “That is why we forwarded the report to the ministry.”
The land identified by the committee consists of 3,279 ropanis spread across 277 plots. According to sources, the identified land is government- or publicly owned.
“If Bhotekoshi flood victims are relocated to the locations we have identified, they will be safer and protected from future floods,” said a member of the committee.
According to the committee member, suitable land has been identified in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
The DUDBC said permanent homes need to be built for 1,200 families affected by the Bhotekoshi flood and has prepared three housing models for the purpose.
