Bhotekoshi flood: Govt to restrict building permanent homes in flood-hit areas
Summary
The government plans to restrict permanent construction in Bhotekoshi flood-hit areas after studies found floodwaters rose as high as 250 meters above the river level. Officials are identifying land to relocate displaced families and are revising bridge and road designs to withstand extreme floods.
Key Points
- The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction wants to ban permanent houses and concrete structures in areas reached by the Bhotekoshi flood and require new buildings to be built 250 to 300 meters above river level.
- The government says 1,200 families need permanent homes, and a central committee has identified 3,279 ropanis of land across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading for relocation.
- The flood destroyed 7,570 buildings across five districts and displaced around 2,000 families now staying in holding centers.
- The Department of Roads is revising bridge designs after 41 of 63 bridges in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli areas were swept away.
