Prabhakar Ghimire

The government has initiated the process of developing 10 small settlements along the Puspalal Mid-Hill Highway into big towns with necessary infrastructure and services, through the investment of over Rs 1.37 billion, in a bid to discourage out-migration from the hill districts. 

The settlements short-listed for the purpose include Phidim of Ilam district and Basantapur of Terhatum in the Eastern Development Region, Kurkot of Sidhuli and Baireni of Dhading in the Central Development Region, Dumre-Bhansar of Tanahun and Burtibang of Baglung in the Western Development Region, Chaurjahari of Rukum and Rakam of Salyan in the Mid-Western Region and Sanfebagar of Achham and Patan of Baitadi in the Far-Western Region. 

“We had initially selected 58 towns along the 1,775-km Mid-Hill Highway to study the potential for and necessity of developing them into bigger towns. However, we brought the number down to 10 that qualified under our criteria,” Deepak Shrestha, Senior Divisional Engineer at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), told Republica.

Shrestha said separate urban development projects will be designed for the 10 mini-towns, which were chosen on the basis nine criteria-- availability of space (land) and water resources, prospects for economic development, non-agricultural activities, existing population as well as prospects of growth through inbound migration from other places, literacy rate and availability and prospects of electricity supply. 

“After all, the main objective behind the proposed development of towns in the mid-hills is to retain the hill population and encourage proportional development across the country,” Shrestha said. He said the target of the program is to increase the population capacity of these towns to at least 50,000 each. 

Among the towns picked, Phidim had the highest population of 13,650 whereas Rakam was inhabited by the lowest-- 1,800, according to the census of 2001.

Provisional Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for individual town developments have already been prepared and the revised reports are to be finalized within a couple of weeks.

“Besides, we have also given priority to towns located at the intersections of north-south roads and the Mid-Hill Highway so that they will grow rapidly through greater connectivity,” Shrestha added.

While selecting the towns, DUDBC left out towns which have already been declared municipalities and receive donor assistance for necessary infrastructure and facilities.

Shrestha said development of land, roads, drainage, nearby river bridges and drinking water systems are priority under the urban development plans for the selected towns. 

“We have already initiated implementation of the plan in Chaurjahari, Phidim and Sanfebagar, where we are developing water supply systems and undertaking land development, among other work,” Shrestha said. 

He said about Rs 60 million has already been allocated so far in the current fiscal year for implementation of the proposed program in the three towns. DUDBC has also provided a list of the selected towns to Nepal Telecom for the development of telecommunications services there.

“We are also coordinating with other concerned ministries to develop health, education and other crucial services in those towns,” he further added.

Published on: 12 January 2012 | Republica