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Relocation of squatters just an elusive dream
KATHMANDU, AUG 31 -
They had a big hope of getting rid of putrid smell emanating from nearby rivers following the then government’s plan to relocate slum dwellers living on the banks of various rivers in Kathmandu Valley. But their dream shattered overnight ever since the allocated budget was frozen when the authority concerned failed to materialise the plan as programmed in the initial phase.
In the budget of fiscal year 2008/09, the Maoist-led government had allocated Rs.130 million to build housing colonies to relocate slum dwellers putting up on riverbanks.
Of the total budget allocated for the construction of houses meant for squatters, Rs. 80 million was frozen, while only Rs. 50 million was used to buy some five ropani of land at Ichangu Narayan VDC in Kathmandu just before the fiscal year ended, according to an official at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW).
“At first, the budget was released late. Secondly, it took us long to find the land for housing construction and thirdly, we had the problem of identifying the real squatters, although the government initially planned to construct 50 housing colonies in Kathmandu by last fiscal year,” said Deepak Shrestha, engineer and chief of DUDBC.
According to the detailed plan submitted to MoPPW, the government, under the relocation programme in the first phase, had planned to survey all slum dwellers and identify the genuine squatters in collaboration with NGOs working in the sector and other stakeholders.
In second phase, the government had planed to construct housing colonies for those living at high risk areas; who would have to pay a monthly installment of Rs. 2,000 within the maximum period of 15 years in return until the sum of Rs. 350,000 is paid before transferring house ownership to them.
Similarly, it had also planned to provide a grant to cover basic facilities like water and drainage as well as to upgrade houses living at a distance from the rivers and hence deemed safe.
“The budget freezing is pity against what authority said earlier. Budget was not made available when it was urgent. Now there is budget, but authority failed to materialise it,” said Lazana Manandhar, executive director of Lumanti Support Group for Shelter.
According to a MoPPW estimation, there are 45 settlements of squatters with the population of over 16,000 who are living along the banks of Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, Tukucha and Manohara rivers.
Posted on: 2010-09-01 08:36
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