Last year's floods and landslides caused extensive damage in Ilam, killing 39 people. The risk has increased this year as well, as damaged roads and bridges could not be repaired in a timely manner.
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Ilam district is at high risk of being cut off from the rest of the country at any time during this year's monsoon. The construction of highway bridges damaged by last year's heavy rains and the reconstruction of areas where large landslides occurred have not been completed.
The failure to repair the roads and bridges damaged by the disaster in a timely manner has increased the risk that Ilam's economic output will not be able to be exported this year and the district itself will be cut off from the road network. There is a risk that Ilam may be cut off from the road network again due to floods and landslides during the rainy season.
According to Kedar Thapa, the mayor of Ilam Municipality, the municipality suffered huge losses due to the floods and landslides following the devastating rains of Asoj 18 and 19 last year. Many roads, culverts and bridges were washed away. 39 people lost their lives.
Chief Thapa said that despite the municipality's great efforts and efforts, a bailey bridge was built on the Puwa River under the Kechana-Kanchanjungha road, but it was washed away. Similarly, he said that the old bailey bridge on the Jogmai River was also washed away. 'The landslide has caused a huge amount of damage not only to physical infrastructure but also to drinking water, irrigation, road network and agricultural production. According to the municipality's technical assessment, the total loss is worth Rs 400 million. About 300 to 350 citizens have been displaced within the municipality area due to this natural disaster, of which about 200 are completely displaced,' he said.
Mechi Highway at risk
Due to a large landslide in the Rajduwali area of the Maikhola section of Ilam under the Mechi Highway, it is difficult to fully operate the road.
Due to the landslides in that section, there is a long queue of vehicles every day and in some cases it is difficult to operate vehicles, causing passengers to suffer.
Although the total budget of Ilam Municipality seems large, Mayor Thapa said that most of the money is spent on social security, salaries and allowances of teachers and employees, and administrative work, so it can only mobilize a maximum of Rs 150 million.
According to him, during the disaster last year, a total budget of Rs 60 million was received from the Disaster Management Authority. Mayor Thapa said that this could not even cover 0.5 percent of the total damage. He said that after not receiving sufficient support from the center, the municipality has cut its small and less important projects and managed an emergency fund worth Rs 20 million internally.
'About 300-350 people are displaced and about 200 are completely displaced. Now we have a total loss of more than Rs 150-200 million,' he said.
Local people's representatives have expressed serious complaints and concerns after the federal government did not allocate funds for the development and reconstruction of physical infrastructure in Ilam, which has been declared a disaster-hit area. Ilam has been contributing greatly to the country's gross domestic product through tea, cardamom and dairy production. However, Mayor Thapa expressed his anger saying that no budget has been allocated for the reconstruction of Ilam's agricultural production, infrastructure and inter-municipal agricultural roads in the current budget of the federal government. Since the roads and bridges damaged due to the disaster could not be repaired in time, there is a risk that Ilam's economic output will not be able to be exported this year and the district may become disconnected.
Disaster Response
The municipality has said that it has intensified its activities in the areas of disaster management, reconstruction and climate change mitigation. Mayor Thapa said that the fire brigade has been kept on standby 24 hours a day in view of the risk of fire. Two backhoe loaders of the municipality have been kept in operation to immediately clear the blocked roads.
According to him, the municipality has prioritized the rehabilitation and reconstruction work of the families affected by the floods and landslides of Ashoja 18 and 19. So far, 92 families out of 132 families have received the first installment of Rs 25,000 for temporary housing. Of the 75 families who received the first installment, 50,000 rupees have been received, including the second installment of Rs 25,000. The remaining 9 families are yet to be disbursed.
Various organizations have constructed temporary housing for 36 of the affected families, while other beneficiaries have also been provided with in-kind assistance from various organizations. Some beneficiaries have been found ineligible for the installment amount due to various reasons. A detailed damage assessment of a total of 166 households has been collected for the reconstruction of permanent housing. Of these, 52 households have been identified as beneficiaries.
So far, agreements have been reached with 21 families and the cost-sharing amount for the first installment has been deposited in the miscellaneous account of the District Administration Office. Agreements are yet to be reached with the remaining beneficiaries. Chief Thapa said that the details of 45 households have been sent for review.
