Infrastructure Minister outlines flood recovery, resettlement and bridge rebuilding plans
Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal detailed the government's short-term shelter aid and long-term resettlement scheme for the Bhotekoshi flood victims, while prioritising the restoration of road links with Bailey bridges.
Sunil Lamsal reported that the Bhotekoshi floods displaced thousands, affecting 8,692 households and prompting the creation of 39 holding centres, whose occupancy has been prolonged due to on-ground conditions. The cabinet approved a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 for families of up to four members, with additional payments for larger families, and plans to provide prefabricated temporary homes that can be assembled quickly near the original villages.
Restoring road access is the top priority; a 10-metre Bailey bridge has been installed at Devighat and another is being positioned to connect Betrawati with Syaphrubesi, while longer spans are still needed. The ministry has sought Chinese cooperation to rebuild the Rasuwa-Syaphrubesi corridor, but a written pact is pending. Long-term resettlement will involve identifying suitable land, purchasing private plots or reallocating public land, and developing integrated townships over an estimated two-year period.
Why it matters
The plan affects millions of flood-displaced Nepalis and critical cross-border trade routes.
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