ANANDA GAUTAM

Owing to the lackadaisical response of the government authorities for their resettlement, the landslide-displaced people from various villages in Taplejung are searching for land on lease at their own initiatives.

The victims claimed that they have no other alternative than to take land on lease as the settlements from where they have been displaced are at high risk of landslides and they badly need land to engage in farming for their livelihood.

The displaced people from Libang, one of the worst landslide-hit VDC in the district, have arrived in Taplejung Municipality for the purpose. Some among them have already managed to lease land after agreeing to provide half of the harvest to the land owners. They are now busy tilling the land for sowing and transplanting paddy.

Sita Baraili of Libang-2 has leased a piece of land in Tinbare after the house and land she owned were swept by the landslide. She is currently staying at Moti Secondary School in Khokling VDC with three of her kids.

“Even if we are victims, no one will provide free food to us forever,” said Baraili, adding that she leased the land to earn a livelihood so that she would be able to feed her kids. Her husband is currently working in Saudi Arabia.

Likewise, Hem Prasad Puri of Libang, who was also rendered homeless following the landslide, has leased a piece of land in Khokling to earn a livelihood as a tenant farmer.

“I am ready to work hard during the monsoon season so as to manage some food stuffs for my family during the difficult winter,” said Puri, adding that his landlord also provided him with some seeds for sowing.

Majority of the landslide-displaced families are searching for land to lease in Kholking for sowing and transplanting paddy during this monsoon.

Locals of ward No 2 and 3 in Libang cannot even return to their village due to imminent risk of landslip whereas some areas in Khokling are also under serious threat of landslides. People have started to leave these settlements in hordes as several cracks and fissures have developed in these areas.

Published on: 23 June 2015 | The Kathmandu Post