DAILEKH, Aug 20: A model settlement of underprivileged Badi community in district headquarters of Dailekh is at great risk of possible landslides.
Landslides had buried six houses of the settlement last Friday, according to the District Police Office (DPO), Dailekh. It has also resulted in deep cracks in 15 other houses of the settlement.
Police said 50 houses of the settlement are at high risk of landslides. An all-party meeting at the District Administration Office (DAO), Dailekh, has decided to take initiative to relocate 21 families to safer location.
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Chief District Officer (CDO) Laxmi Prasad Baskota informed that the families would be relocated in a nearby school until the risk decreases. The remaining families would be relocated elsewhere, he added.
The settlement is located in a risky area. Meanwhile, a road has been dug below the settlement, which has weakened the land and further increased the risk of landslides.
“The stakeholders concerned did not care to minimize the risks of landslides in our model settlement, leading to this present condition,” said Pauwa Badi, a community leader. “Such negligence has further increased the risk of landslides in the community. Landslides trouble us every year but they don't bother to find solution.”
According to the locals, the fear of landslides is keeping them awake at night. They pray and keep their fingers crossed whenever it rains.
“A slight sound of rainfall is enough to keep us awake the whole night. After all, it's a matter of life and death for us,” said Tek Bahadur Badi, a local.
A team including CDO Baskota visited the settlement for observation. They urged the locals to be alert at all times and added that preparation for the relocation is ongoing.
The model Badi community has a total of 65 houses, out of which 50 are at high risk. Many families have already abandoned their house since the onset of monsoon.
