THOMAS BOGATY
KATHMANDU: In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of April 25 that rocked the country and shook Nepalis to the core, concerns are growing that people in Kathmandu will struggle to find houses to rent.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, out of 614,777 buildings in the Valley, 50,984 buildings were completely destroyed and 41,066 buildings have been partially damaged. As the Kathmandu Valley slowly limps back to normalcy after the deadliest quake in 80 years, there have been talks whether the remaining buildings would be sufficient to house a population of more than 2.5 million.

The tremor has destroyed over 200,000 houses in the country, rendering many homeless.

Dhurba Raj Thapa, President at Nepal Engineers’ Association, said that 35 per cent of the partially damaged buildings are vulnerable and they are not safe for accommodation.

About 2,200 engineers of NEA and 25 international engineers have volunteered for rapid visual damage assessment, post-earthquake damage assessment and situation analysis of the survived buildings.

The preliminary rapid visual damage assessment of more than 5,500 houses has been completed. The volunteers have advised tenants and house owners to avoid living in partially damaged houses until it is demolished or repaired.

Data provided by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division show that over 800,000 people have left Kathmandu since the earthquake struck the country and 156,096 returned came to Kathmandu within a week.

The people who are still in the Valley have started searching for new rooms/apartments/flats after being warned not to live in houses that have cracks in beams, pillars and walls. Those who left the Valley but will soon return are also likely to face problem.

Volunteers have suggested Sabina Joshi, 53, not to live in a 60-year-old three-storey mud house in Ason. But she cannot think of leaving the house. “I have stayed in this house for about a decade with the rental charge of Rs 3,000 a month. After the quake, I have not entered the house. Now I am worried that I have to look for another accommodation,” said Joshi, worrying about expensive rent she has to pay elsewhere. Her house in Sankhu was destroyed in the disaster.

Amrit Bahadur Shakya, 51, has been suggested to demolish his six-storey concrete house in Bhotahiti, which has developed deep cracks. A house next to his collapsed in the quake, where sports journalist Suman Bomjon, 30, died.

“After the earthquake I have been living in my uncle’s house in Kohiti. Demolition and reconstruction of the house is going to be very expensive. I am worried about getting accommodation for my nine members of my family,” he lamented.

Kabir Rajbhandari, team leader of engineers at NEA, said, “People are going to face serious challenge when it comes to getting houses/rooms/flats/apartments after they return to the Valley. They will not be allowed to live in the partially damaged houses.”

The other concern he expressed was house owners might increase the rent, which will but complicate the problem for those looking for places to live.

source: the himalayan times,7 may 2015