March 9: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning of Bagmati Province has earmarked a budget of Rs 40 million for the protection of the areas affected by the floods of Merlamchi and Indrawati rivers.     

The Ministry has approved 31 plans with a budget of Rs 4 million in the first phase under the Soil and Watershed Conservation Programme.    

Though the ministry has appropriated budget for 31 plans from Panchpokhari, Helambu to Dhandkhola, the provincial government is yet to release Rs 70 million required for the implementation of the plans. According to the province assembly member Yubaraj  Dulal, the provincial government will approve and implement the plans within the current fiscal year.

The provincial government allocated the budget for the conservation of the flood-ravaged areas on the initiative of province assembly member Dulal.    

The massive flooding that occurred in the Melamchi and Indrawati Rivers nine months ago had ravaged human settlements in Sindhupalchowk district. -- RSS