The Nepal Rastra Bank is currently on the hunt for a house on rent for Governor Biswo Nath Poudel. Poudel’s house in Bhainsepati, Lalitpur and his parental home in Chitwan were set ablaze during the Gen Z protests on September 9.

The central bank had issued a public notice on September 28, seeking proposals to rent a house for the governor, with the submission deadline set for October 13. But it received no proposal that met the required standards within the given time. The NRB then extended the deadline by an additional 20 days.

Alongside vital government buildings, the ministerial quarters at Bhainsepati were also set on fire during the protest.

The interim government’s Minister for Education, Science, and Environment Mahabir Pun has been residing within the premises of the ministry at Keshar Mahal as per his choice. Other ministers have been staying in their private residences.

Although the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar sustained some damage during the Gen Z movement, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki continues to reside at the official residence in Baluwatar.

While there is currently no immediate need to provide separate official residences for the ministers of the interim government, it can not be a permanent solution.

After shifting the ministerial quarters from Harihar Bhawan, Lalitpur to the newly built buildings at Bhainsepati, the government designated the Harihar Bhawan-based ministerial quarters for the accommodation of Supreme Court justices. The justices are now residing there.

According to officials privy to the development, the government is struggling to arrange accommodation for ministers and other top officials following the destruction.

The interim government, which was formed in the aftermath of the Gen Z movement, decided to dissolve the House of Representatives on September 12. Although the interim government dissolved the House of Representatives, the National Assembly remains. While Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Bimala Ghimire, had been living in the ministerial quarters at Bhaisepati, she currently does not have any government accommodation following the arson.

Umesh Kumar Chaudhary, spokesperson for the Federal Secretariat Construction and Management Office under the Ministry of Urban Development, the department responsible for managing official residences for office bearers, said that the government is currently unable to provide official housing to the top officials.

Chaudhary explained that many government buildings intended for residential use have been damaged, and until their repair and maintenance are completed, such facilities will not be available for use.

“Currently, we are only at the preliminary assessment stage for the damaged buildings, so it is not possible to say how long the repairs will take,” Chaudhary said.

Failing to arrange official residences, the government has arranged to provide top officials with a monthly house rent allowance of Rs40,000, which amounts to Rs35,000 after tax deductions.

“For now, senior officials who do not own a house in Kathmandu will have to manage their accommodation within that allowance,” Chaudhary said.

Vice Chairperson Ghimire says that living in a rented private house could raise security concerns.

On the other hand, given that several politicians’ homes were vandalised and set on fire during the Gen Z movement, questions have also arisen over whether the general public will readily rent their houses to political figures and other noted officials.

Ghimire is currently residing at her permanent home in Kapilvastu. She complained that the government didn’t show any concern or initiative to arrange an official residence for her during the past month.

“It might be because of the ongoing difficult circumstances, no government agency has contacted me showing any concern regarding this matter,” Ghimire said.

National Assembly chair Narayan Dahal even sought Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s support to arrange an official residence for Ghimire. He raised the issue during his meeting with the prime minister on Monday.

“I told the prime minister that at present, it is not possible to find a residence for the people from political parties,” Dahal told mediapersons after the meeting. “So, it would be better if a government building that is not being used currently is allocated for her.”

Ishwar Kharel, chairperson of the Rental Entrepreneurs Association, which assists in providing rental housing in Kathmandu, said that landlords tend to view political leaders from two perspectives.

According to him, landlords have recently become increasingly reluctant to rent their properties to leaders due to the public perception that politicians and top officials were responsible for the unrest.

“Landlords have become more circumspect when it comes to renting their house to political leaders,” Kharel said.