NRA issues declaration to expedite reconstruction

Kathmandu, Nov. 4: With an aim to expedite the post-quake reconstruction, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has issued a 28-point declaration, clarifying the responsibilities of the NRA, Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), local bodies and the line ministries.

The declaration, issued two and a half years after the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015 hit the country, includes the activities and announcements that the reconstruction authority has pledged to carry out.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the NRA said that the declaration was issued after intensive interactions with the representatives from the worst-hit 14 districts, and other stakeholder agencies.

During the interaction, newly elected representatives of the local bodies and stakeholder agencies had updated the reconstruction body about the problems and challenges in the reconstruction and suggested the techniques and modalities to resolve those issues.

“Salaries and allowances of the engineers and technicians deployed in the quake-hit areas, and the details of settlements at the areas weakened due to the tremors will be sent to the local bodies,” read the declaration.

Likewise, the NRA will share the cost of integrated settlement development, and such programmes will be coordinated by the chief of the local body.

Procedures for the house grant will be amended so as to allow the beneficiaries to build their houses in the municipalities or rural municipalities of the adjacent districts, and provide them the grant money.

Currently the families that lost their houses can’t get the grant money if they build their house in places other than their home district, but the NRA had last month announced a provision to allow them to build their houses in the adjacent districts.

NRA Chief Executive Officer Yuba Raj Bhusal reiterated that about 60 per cent quake damaged houses would be rebuilt within seven months.

He directed the stakeholders to act in a way to help the government achieve the target.

According to the declaration, the BFIs will make sure that the beneficiaries’ money will be deposited to their bank accounts within two days of receiving the cheques.

Similarly, the banks will facilitate the beneficiaries in receiving the concessional loans or collateral loans without interest and requests will be made to the Nepal Rastra Bank to establish a focal point to hear the grievances related to the reconstruction loan.

The declaration also noted that some of the BFIs had asked for commissions from the beneficiaries while paying the second and third tranche of the grant money, and decided to request the central bank to direct the banks no to ask for any additional charges or commissions on the grant.

Likewise, the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation will ensure proper supply of wood, recommend alternative construction materials, and arrange water for the construction works respectively.

According to the declaration, the local bodies will not charge any money for the approval of the house design, they will make arrangements for the smooth supply of construction materials, help people procure portable saw mills, train the masons and hear the grievances of the quake-hit families.