The situation of 97 families displaced by a landslide in Baseinda Village, Silichong Rural Municipality-1, remains dire three years after the tragic event. Despite the availability of federal, provincial, and local governments, the displaced families are still living in tents due to the lack of interest and action from the concerned agencies.
In Bhaire Danda, Khandbari Municipality-7, the local government has constructed a toilet facility for the displaced families, but no housing has been provided to them yet. The landslide, which occurred on the night of July 12, 2020, resulted in the disappearance of 11 people and the destruction of nine houses in Silichong-1 Baseinda.
Even though the government allocated land for housing in the financial year 2022-023 at Bhaire Danda for 55 families, no progress has been made in building the houses due to budget constraints. The allocated budget of Rs. 13 million has not been received, and the families have been left without a roof over their heads.
The decision to allocate funds for housing construction was made with the federal government contributing 60 percent, the state government 30 percent, and the local government 10 percent of the budget for the landslide victims. However, the lack of prioritization by any level of government has led to a prolonged delay in providing adequate housing to the affected families.
As a result, out of the 97 displaced families, 25 are living in Chitre and 12 are temporarily residing in Bakhaltumtar and other trenches. The families are deeply concerned about their safety, especially during the rainy season, as they fear their houses might be washed away in landslides.
The Constitution of Nepal, 2015, recognizes the right to housing as a fundamental right in Article 37. Sub-article 1 of the same article ensures that every citizen has the right to suitable housing. However, the displaced families in Baseinda Village have been deprived of this fundamental right despite the legal provisions.