Kathmandu. A total of 277 plots of land have been identified and recommended for the rehabilitation of the families affected by the floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts. The central committee formed by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration has submitted a report to the Ministry with the identification of possible land for rehabilitation.

According to the committee, the total area of the 277 plots of land identified is 3,279 ropanis 2 paisa. In the district, 177 plots of land have been identified in Rasuwa, 94 plots in Nuwakot and 6 plots of land in Dhading. On the basis of area, the highest number of 2,665 ropanis of land was identified in Nuwakot (2,665 ropanis 6 anna 1 paisa 1 daam), Rasuwa (591 ropanis 9 anna 1 paisa 2 daam) and 22 ropanis 3 paisa 1 daam in Dhading.

The identified land includes government and public land, as well as private, forest, Nepal Electricity Authority, government schools, irrigation and park land. The committee’s study showed that a large part of the land is government and forest land.

The committee has suggested that the first priority should be given to safe places for rehabilitation. The report states that even if the affected families are close to their existing settlements, they should not be rehabilitated in areas where there is a high natural risk. The committee has suggested that a final decision should be taken only after conducting further social, economic, technical, environmental and community studies in the identified areas and consultation at the local level.

The potential restoration zones were identified using multi-standard analysis (MCA) of GIS data (topographical, survey maps, pre and post disaster satellite images, existing settlements, land use maps, DEM, landslide risk map, water sources, transport and road network, river system, etc.) of the land recommended by the local level for rehabilitating the families who have no alternative to relocate. The suitability of the potential land was examined by comparing the available records, hazard status and on-site observations.

The committee has suggested that the rehabilitation should not be implemented only as a program to provide land for the construction of houses, but to make a plan for the development of integrated settlement with basic infrastructure including roads, drinking water, sanitation, electricity, schools, health, communication and open spaces. The report states that the social, religious, cultural and traditional lifestyle of the affected families should also be included in the rehabilitation plan.

The committee has said that priority should be given to non-forest and non-protected areas based on the situation of land availability. It has been suggested that the process of using forest or protected area should be taken forward by amending the related laws or making special legal provisions regarding the use of forest or protected area only when such land is not available.

A central committee was formed under the coordination of Director General of the Survey Department, Prakash Joshi, to identify the land required for the rehabilitation of the families affected by the floods in the Bhotekoshi River area of Rasuwa on September 22, 2083. The committee has representatives from the Home Ministry, Federal Affairs, Infrastructure Development, Land Management and Records, Survey, Forest and Soil Conservation, Mines and Geology, Water Resources and Irrigation.

The committee was given the responsibility of determining the number of families affected by the floods and not having the option to reside, identifying the land required for rehabilitation, conducting an on-site study of the identified land and conducting a preliminary disaster risk assessment, and recommending necessary legal procedures and measures for the use of the land. The committee was also given the responsibility to identify and search for land for rehabilitation in coordination with the Government of Nepal, provincial government, local level and concerned authorities and the committee was given the responsibility to recommend and recommend the land for rehabilitation.