Kathmandu, December 25
Sushil Gyawali, chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, said on Sunday that the authority has not been able to pursue post-quake reconstruction work as expected because of what he called ‘political transition’.
Gyawali said this while addressing a programme organised on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the authority, established for the construction of infrastructure destroyed in quakes, which rocked the country about 20 months ago, and resettlement of the quake victims.
Gyawali said absence of local elected representatives had made their job more difficult. According to Gyawali, 358 settlements are most vulnerable to disasters and they need shifting. He said NEA has mobilised 14 teams for shifting these settlements.
Signing of grant agreements and distribution of the first installment of government-sanctioned quake aid package is currently underway in the Kathmandu Valley, Gyawali informed. He pointed that this work has suffered delays due to the shortage of land in the valley.
Gyawali said they have forwarded a proposal to the Council of Ministers for a decision on the distribution of the second installment of the aid package — Rs 1.5 lakh to each quake-affected family.
He said: Suppose an affected family has signed with the government an agreement making it eligible for total grant of three lakh rupees. If the family says now it wants to go for retrofitting, it will get one lakh rupees in two equal installments. On the other hand, the family will get three lakh rupees if it plans to build a new house by pulling down the damaged one.
According to the authority, there are 6,26,036 houses in 14 most affected districts. So far, 41,311 houses have seen completion whereas construction of 17,100 houses is going on.
Reconstruction of 16 archaeological sites is complete as of now, the authority said, adding that construction of 69 sites is in progress.
Throughout the country, 200 health posts have been reconstructed so far, the authority said. Within the current fiscal, the authority plans to reconstruct 268 health facilities.
