CG starts work on temporary homes for quake victims
LALITPUR, June 21:
The Chaudhary Group has started building temporary homes at Karyabinayak Municipality in Lalitpur district for people who have been rendered shelterless by the devastating earthquake of April 25 and its aftershocks. The transitional homes are being put up as per CG's announcement that it is building some 1,000 homes for earthquake-affected people.
Speaking at a press meet on May 25, CG's chairman, Binod Chaudhary, had announced a Rs 250 million support fund as longterm relief for the quake victims. The support includes the building of 1,000 transitional homes for the quake victims.
CG had announced that it would build and hand over the transitional home on its own, at costs ranging from US dollars 700 to 2,000. It has been partially supporting the locals to build their homes in Ward No. 14 of Karyabinaya Municipality.
The homes being built with CG support are, however, different from what Forbes billionaire Chaudhary announced at the press meet. Locals say that they have to put up around 50 percent of the total cost.
According to those receiving the CG support, the business group is providing them the designs of the homes along with some construction materials, such as bamboos, corrugated sheets and paint.
Prem Sintang, who has been helping his father-in-law Thir Kumar Limbu build a home at Karyabinayak, told Republica that the home was of temporary type which can last for three to four years. "CG is providing the design of the home as well as some building materials while the rest of the expenses as well as the labor cost are our own," said Sintang.
"Chaudhary Group is going to provide us materials worth around Rs 45,000 while we have to put up the rest of the money," he added.
According to locals, CG is providing 78 bamboo poles, five bags of cement, 15 kg gabion wire, 20 meters of plastic, five liters of paint, some door knobs and two and half bundles of corrugated sheets to build each home.
Ramesh Bahadur Tamang, another local who is getting the support to built his home, also said that the home would be of temporary type. "The home costing around Rs 100,000 is of temporary type," he said. "I have heard that the government has also announced a relief fund of Rs 200,000 for building homes but I'm not sure we will be entitled to the government support if we receive support from CG," he added.
Bimala Sunar, another local, also shared similar concerns. "While CG says it is going to build the homes, we are also spending money. They (CG designers) have given us the designs, which appear unsuitable for a family of more than five or six," added Sunar. "Had there been complete supports from CG for the materials along with our labor costs, it would have been better," she said.
CG has also deputed technicians for the design work and support in building the homes. "They are few, only four or five for the whole area. They sit around and direct us what to do rather than assisting in designing and developing the homes," added Sintang.
Source: Republica
