Joint secretary of the National
Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Ram Prasad Thapaliya and ADB country director
for Nepal Kenichi Yokoyama laid the foundation for the reconstruction of the
District Forest Office in Dhading.
The government has been implementing
the 232 million USD EEAP under which 200 million USD (87 per cent) is financed
by the ADB.
The devastating earthquakes in
April and May 2015 and subsequent aftershocks had destroyed 193 government
buildings and partially damaged 510 other buildings in 31 districts.
According to a press statement
issued by the ADB, one of the major components of the EEAP was the
reconstruction of government building in 11 of the 14 worst-hit districts to
help the government deliver public services and enhance good governance.
Other components of the project
include the reconstruction of schools as well as strategic and district roads.
Speaking on the occasion, joint secretary of the Ministry
of Urban Development Shiva Hari Sharma said that the government was planning to
complete the rebuilding and retrofitting of government buildings within the
next 3 years, in which ADB’s support was vital.
He appealed to local political leaders, government
personnel, and people in the community to support all the reconstruction work
to complete it on time.
Mr. Yokoyama said, “The main principle of reconstruction -
build back better - will be fully adopted in the reconstruction of government
buildings. Under this project, the buildings will be earthquake resilient, friendly
to the differently able and the environment, spacious, well equipped, and
furnished.”
He stated that efforts were also made to relocate the
government buildings close to each other, following the concept of integrating
government buildings as adopted in the NRA’s Reconstruction Policy.
ADB informed that in total, 8 government office buildings
will be reconstructed in Dhading district.
The reconstruction will be implemented in two phases: the
first includes the quarters of the Chief District Officer, District Forest
Office and District Court with an estimated cost of Rs. 117 million.
The second includes the Department of Urban Development
and Building Construction Division Office, District Agriculture Development
Office, and District Post Office.
The EEAP has signed contracts to reconstruct 10 buildings,
notifications for award have been issued for a further 10 buildings,
invitations for bid have been published for 6 buildings, and the detailed engineering
design for 15 buildings is ongoing.
The latter comprises 4 buildings in Gorkha, 4 in Dolakha,
1 in Ramechhap, 2 in Sindhuli and 4 in Sindhupalchowk.
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