Reconstruction work began for some of the residents of Udzorong in the first phase but others are waiting for the second phase to begin as they still haven’t received the insurance money.
With the 21st September earthquake destroying hundreds of houses and making many homeless, the residents of Udzorong, one of the most affected geogs, is now slowly rising from the ashes.
According to the geog administration officer (GAO), Jigme, the dzongkhag has already given them the map for constructing one-storied houses and some who have received their insurance money in the first phase have already started to build new homes. However, some are waiting for the second phase to start.
For Samten, one of the Udzorong residents, who is currently constructing a house for him self, stones are not a problem as his land has many of it which he can easily dig out. But there are quite a few residents who do not have enough stones in their lands that they can use for the reconstruction of their own houses.
According to the GAO, a raw material like stone depends on whether a person has it in their land or not. Some have easy access to stones while some have to go searching for it or buy it from those who have excess.
Besides stones, shortage of lumber is another raw material that most of the residents fear will cause them delay in building back their houses.
Many fear that no matter how economically they try to use timber, the idea of rebuilding 115 houses calls for a serious thought when it comes to availing this raw material for all the households.
Easterners are now worried about how this matter is going to be looked into in whole of the affected areas when it is creating a huge problem and concern in just Udzorong itself.
One of the residents expressed his concerns for the problem and said that it will be difficult for the government to handle it but opined that the government may already be aware of the matter and may have already figured out the solution.
While those who have received their insurance in the first phase have already started to lay the foundations for a new start, some are still waiting for their insurance money to reach their hands.
Responding to the eagerly waiting people’s concern of the second phase that is yet to start, government officials said that the delay was due to the earthquake that occurred once again in the month of October.
The event made the government officials to carry out re-assessment of the region as many houses were damaged further.
According to them, the re-assessed findings have already been submitted to the concerned insurance party. The officials surmised that the insurance company will hand over the money for the second phase soon.
While many people have started to reconstruct their homes under the first phase, the people identified for the second phase are waiting for their turns.
Many people from the first phase of reconstruction are now able to sleep inside their homes which they say is a great relief for them after having spent months outside in the harsh winter temperatures.
However, people from the second phase of reconstruction are still waiting to start living inside their homes and lead a normal life though they say that the disastrous event is something that they will never be able to erase from their minds.
By Rinzin Lotey in Trashigang
