Government Forms Committee to Find Safe Land for Resettlement of Bhote Koshi Flood Victims

KATHMANDU, September 4, 2026: The government has begun preparations to resettle families displaced by the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi floods in safer locations, forming a committee to identify suitable land for temporary accommodation and long-term rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Federal Affairs and General Administration has formed the committee under the coordination of Prakash Joshi, Director General of the Survey Department.

The committee will assess potential locations, identify affected families and examine the disaster risks associated with proposed resettlement sites.

Committee to Include Officials From Multiple Agencies

The committee brings together representatives from government agencies, district administrations, local governments and security agencies.

Members include representatives from:

• Federal Affairs and General Administration Division

• Ministry of Infrastructure

• Department of Land Management and Records

• Assistant Chief District Officers of the affected districts

• Chief Administrative Officers of concerned local governments

• District Coordination Committees

• District Police Offices

• Armed Police Force

• Land Administration Offices

• Survey Offices

Damodar Wagle, an Undersecretary (Technical), has been appointed as the member-secretary.

Identifying Families at Risk

The committee will not only focus on families whose homes and land were directly damaged by the floods.

It will also identify families who may still be living in their original locations despite facing continued disaster risks.

In coordination with local governments, the committee will collect and verify information on affected and displaced households.

The government says the process will help establish a clearer picture of how many families require temporary accommodation or permanent resettlement.

Potential Sites to Undergo Risk Assessment

Once possible land is identified, the committee will conduct field inspections and carry out preliminary disaster risk assessments with the support of technical experts.

The assessment will examine factors including:

• Geographic and physical conditions

• Flood and landslide risks

• Suitability for residential settlements

• Availability of roads and other infrastructure

• Overall safety of the proposed location

Land will be selected in coordination with local governments, district land administration offices and survey offices.

Legal Process Also Under Review

The committee's responsibility goes beyond simply finding suitable land.

It will also examine the legal procedures required for resettlement, including arrangements for temporary accommodation and the eventual relocation of affected families.

Following field assessments, the committee will submit a report to the ministry containing recommendations on suitable locations, affected households, risk assessments and the legal steps required for resettlement.

Focus on Safer Long-Term Settlements

The government says the committee has been formed to bring land identification, disaster risk assessment and legal procedures together rather than treating them as separate processes.

The initiative comes as authorities look to move families who have lost homes or face continued risks away from vulnerable areas and toward safer locations.