Minister Gurung pledges to support reconstruction of flood-ravaged area

Kathmandu : Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kirang Gurung and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Ram Sharan Basnet have made onsite visits to the flood-hit Dhorpatan area on Thursday.

On the occasion, Minister Gurung and Basnet had enquired about the problems of flood-affected families and status of the loss. Minister Gurung pledged full-fledged support from the state government to the reconstruction of the flood-ravaged physical infrastructures.

“The reconstruction works would gain pace soon. The Gandaki government would make arrangements of budget and qualified human resource”, Minister Gurung said. The unit office of the Physical Infrastructure Development would be set up at Burtibang to step up planned reconstruction works, he added.

He further said that the task of up-gradation of Burtibang-Dhorpatan road would be initiated in collaboration with the federal government and Saljhandi-Dhorpatan project. The central transmission line would be expanded in collaboration with the Neal Electricity Authority and the state government would provide necessary budget for the purpose, Minister Gurung added.

He further assured to provide support in the long-term management and relief programme targeting the displaced families.
Floods have caused damages to the physical infrastructures of road, drinking water, electricity, irrigation project, school, health facility and bridge. The floods have completely damaged 120 houses and partially damaged 51 houses. As many as 22 people have lost their lives and 15 are still missing in the floods.

It may be noted that the federal government has also declared Baglung as a disaster-hit area to expedite reconstruction works.