Kathmandu, Aug. 21: As many as 242 settlements in Sindhupalchowk district and 258 households in Dhading are in need of relocation to safer places in view of the high risk of rain-induced disaster.

The people's representatives in Sindhupalchowk have called on the government to relocate the at-risk settlements in the district to safe locations. They made this call in a coordination meeting on identification and relocation of settlements at risk due to natural disaster held in Chautara, the district headquarters, on Thursday.

A study conducted by the National Reconstruction authority (NRA) identified 242 settlements in Sindhupalchowk district are at risk of flood and landslide. According to the study, 49 settlements in Bhotekoshi rural municipality, 14 settlements in Balephi rural municipality, 23 settlements in Bahrabise municipality, four settlements in Sangachokgadhi municipality, 34 settlements in Helambu, 19 settlements in

Indrawati, 33 settlements in Jugal, 10 settlements in Lisankhupakhar, 19 settlements in Melamchi, 32 settlements in Thangpaldhap, four settlements in Tripura and one settlement in Sunkoshi are at risk.

Out of these settlements, 71 are categorised as the 'red zone', 75 as 'yellow zone' and 76 as 'green zone' in terms of the degree of risk they are at.

258 households in Dhading apply for relocation

Meanwhile, a report from Dhading district states that the locals have urged the authorities there to relocate the settlements in north of the district that are at high risk of disaster due to continuous rains.

The District Disaster Management Committee has placed a demand in this connection before the Bagmati State government's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development. The at-risk settlements include Arandanda, ward no 2, Hindung, ward no 4, Kapurgaun Jhakritol, ward no 5, Lamatol, Niber, ward no 6 of Rubivalley rural municipality and ward no 1, Kichet of Gangajamuna rural municipality.

One hundred and one households at Lamatol, Jhakritol of Kapurgaun, 82 households at Nebergaun and 75 households at Tirgaun in Rubivalley have submitted a joint memorandum to the Ministry asking to be relocated to safer place.