Study report on Melamchi flood risk assessment and reconstruction

Study presentation and discussion program on risk assessment and reconstruction from Melamchi floods has been completed in Melamchi today. Dr. Ranjan Kumar Dahal, Associate Professor of Geology, presented the study report at the program. The study explained the areas where embankments should be constructed along the Melamchi and Indravati rivers. Experts have also suggested maintaining the river area. A team of experts has prepared a seven-year plan for immediate, medium and long term and submitted it to the municipality. According to the same plan, work is underway to deepen the Melamchi River and make it manageable, said Dambar Aryal, chief of the municipality.

Risk mapping is also done by separating green, yellow and red areas. According to the report, temporary structures such as parking and bus park can be built in the green area instead of residential area, yellow in cultivable area and red in permanent area. The report states that three places in the Melamchi area can be developed as permanent housing areas. The report states that the city can be expanded by making the Bhatar of Talamarang, Makhlo Tar of Melamchi and the mid-hills of Bahunepati a livable area.

He also said that a nine-kilometer long wall is needed to control the river from Talamarang to Sipaghat.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister and MP Sher Bahadur Tamang said that the entire work could not be done by the resources of the city alone and urged the international donors to complete the work within a few years. Mayor Dambar Aryal said that the federal government and the state government should cooperate for the implementation of the municipality's plan based on the concept of experts. He urged the community to support the work of the municipality as it needs the support of the community to implement the plan.

He said that the date of local level election has already been announced and urged the people's representatives to work by giving priority to such schemes in the city.

During the program, the locals were interested in the town's plans and conditions. City Secretariat Officer Ichcha Ram Sapkota informed that the subject matter experts have answered the queries. On the occasion, Deputy Chief Bhagwati Nepal, Assistant Chief District Officer Niranjan Shrestha and others stressed on the need to work hand in hand for the implementation of the plan.