Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand Saturday inspected the flood-affected areas of Helambu and Melamchi in Sindhupalchowk district.
The two major market hubs of the district – Helambu and Melamchu – were hit hardest in initial days of monsoon season on June 15 and 30 and had faced huge damage to properties and human lives. Several persons had been killed while over 20 have still been missing in the devastating flash flood of June 15.
A team including the Home Minister had inspected the Melamchi Bazaar of Melamchi Municipality and the surrounding areas and the Ganesh Bazaar area of Ward No. 2 of Helambu Rural Municipality this morning.
On the occasion, Home Minister Khand directed the CDO to construct damaged roads, bridges, houses, offices and other structures and make proper management for the flood and landslide affected people.
Minister Khand is also the chairman of the executive committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA), which is too headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as chairman of the National Council of the Authority. There are two executive bodies in the Authority.
The visiting team also inquired about the damage caused by floods and landslides in the area, according to CEO Anil Pokhrel of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA), who has also accompanied the visit with the Home Minister.
The inspection team includes CPN-UML lawmaker and former minister Sher Bahadur Tamang, former Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet, National Planning Commission Vice Chairman Dr. Bishwo Poudel, Bagmati Province Assembly members Yuvraj Dulal and Nima Lama, Home Secretary Teknarayan Pandey, Director General of Roads Arjun Thapa, Deputy Director General of Irrigation Department Pradip Thapa, and Helambu Rural Municipality Chairman Nima Gyalzen Sherpa.
The team also made on-site and aerial observations of the flood-affected areas.
Meanwhile, our Sindhupalchowk correspondent Chitra Mijar added that during the visit Minister Khand instructed the officials to immediately set up check dams in various places of the flood-hit areas so as to control further damage.
He also said that a team of experts is looking for ways to stop the landslide. He also informed that studies are being conducted to carry out necessary technical work for the prevention of excessive damage.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, disappearances and loss of property in the floods, Home Minister Khand said that the government was serious about rebuilding the physical infrastructure and rehabilitating those displaced by the floods. Stating that all the flood-damaged areas will be rebuilt, Home Minister Khand said that necessary bridges and embankments would be constructed soon to protect the flood-affected settlements.
In another context, the Home Minister said experiences of Chinese and Indian experts will also be used for the detailed study of the construction of headworks and human settlement protection of Melamchi Drinking Water Project.
Chairman of Helambu Rural Municipality Sherpa briefed that the floods and landslides had swept away six motorable bridges, seven suspension bridges, and had still been posing risk of flood to dozens of houses, community buildings, land erosion and eroding settlement in Helambu village.
Home Minister Khand has said that the Cabinet will start implementation for proper management of all those affected by the floods and landslides.
Source : TRN,
