KATHMANDU, May 20: The government has announced to provide a total of Rs 25,000 per family for rehabilitation expenses in a bid to provide respite to landless families recently evacuated from river banks at various locations of the Kathmandu Valley.
A cabinet meeting held on Tuesday decided to provide the amount after verifying the details of the people displaced from the risky settlement areas. Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, who is also the spokesperson for the government, informed that cabinet meeting has decided to provide relief money to those evicted from risky settlements to encourage them to make alternative housing arrangements on their own.
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In addition, the government has also decided to provide a relief allowance of Rs 15,000 to a five-member family. If the family size is more than this, an additional Rs 2,000 per person a month will be provided for next three months. Likewise, the government is set to arrange for elderly, disabled, helpless and unable to live on their own in designated holding centers.
In its first phase of evacuating unplanned and vulnerable settlements on the banks of the Bagamati River and its tributaries in the Kathmandu Valley, a total of 2,687 structures (houses and huts) built on the government and public lands were removed. The drive, which began in Thapathali and Gaurigaun, was later carried out in Manohara Area, Kalopul, Balkhu, Bansikhat, Shankhamul, Kalimati, Balaju, Swoyambhu, Gaushala, Dhobhikhola and Kapan.
The government’s Policies and Programs also talks about adopting measures for proper management and long lasting solutions for landless Dalit, squatters and unmanaged settlements. The government authorities are reported to have started screening the actual landless and squatter settlers.
The cabinet meeting has further decided to accept a grant of 6.116 million Swiss francs from the Swiss government for the Municipal Revenue Enhancement Project. The other decisions include accepting a grant of 79.36 million RMB from the Chinese government for the repair and improvement of the Araniko Highway, approving the Accreditation Regulations 2026, approving the Sixth Amendment of Military Service Regulations 2026 and allowing tabling the bill to amend the Nepal Rastra Bank Act 2002 to the Federal Parliament.
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