Construction work of the integrated settlement is likely to begin soon, with a meeting of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) executive committee giving a go-ahead. 

A meeting chaired by NRA Chief Executive Officer Govind Raj Pokharel this week agreed to develop integrated settlements at Jilu in Dolakha, Baguwa Milan Basti in Gorkha and Melamchi Jarayotar in Sindhupalchok districts.

According to NRA Spokesperson Yam Lal Bhusal, the authority will gradually support the project in line with the standards and procedures set by the local bodies. 

The concept of integrated settlement is not new with the private sector and social workers already developing such communities, it is for the first that any government agency is getting involved. 

The NRA has also formed a four-member sub-panel under its executive committee member Dhurba Prasad Sharma to develop a set of guidelines for the development of integrated settlements that will either be operated or supervised by the authority. 

“The sub-committee has been mandated to prepare guideline within 15 days,” Bhusal said. 

The integrated settlements being developed by the government will each have proper roads, drinking water, electricity, public toilets, health post, community building and school, among other facilities. Apart from these three locations, the NRA has identified 112 settlements, including Keraunja in Gorkha, Khalde in Rasuwa, Urleni in Nuwakot and Besimpa in Dolakha, as the vulnerable zones. 

In May, the government had formed committees headed by chief district officers of the respective districts to shift the vulnerable settlements to safe locations. The NRA says it has received reports from all the committees in the districts.