Jajarkot, Jan. 25: Local levels have delayed the distribution of the grant sent by the federal government for the construction of temporary housing for the earthquake-affected victims in Jajarkot district.

Even 82 days after the earthquake, the people enlisted as beneficiaries for the grant are spending cold winter nights under tarpaulins and tents as they have not received the grant money for constructing the temporary housing. As a result, the quake victims have been suffering from cold-induced illnesses.   

Until now, all the families should have built temporary housing and moved to a warmer place, but due to the delay in distributing the grant on the part of the local levels, the victims have been in trouble.  

The victims are to get Rs. 25,000 as the first tranche of the grant to begin temporary housing, but when the local bodies have delayed transferring the budget and confirming additional beneficiaries, the victims are facing difficulty in building temporary shelters.  

Although Jajarkot has 42,524 beneficiaries, 28,682 beneficiaries signed an agreement with the local government for the first instalment. Of them, 27,735 beneficiaries have received their first tranche of about Rs. 693 million at the rate of 25,000. 

These first tranche amounts were distributed in Bheri, Nalgadh, Chhedagaadh municipalities, and Barekot, Kushe, Shivalaya, Junichande rural municipalities.  

Harish Chandra Sharma, Information Officer and Administrative Officer of the District Administration Office, said that a total of 10,341 temporary housings have been constructed so far in the municipalities. The federal government has provided Rs. 1.3 billion as housing grant to the district.