Reconstruction work gathers pace

Kathmandu, Dec. 5

As the tenure of the National Reconstruction Authority nears its end, house reconstruction has started gaining momentum.

In the first four months of the current fiscal year 2020/21, 46,270 private houses, 27 school buildings and 12 historic and cultural heritages have been reconstructed.

“Additional 6,600 beneficiaries have received the second tranche of the housing grant while 5,114 have received the final installment. The NRA signed retrofitting agreement with 685 families,” said the reconstruction body in a statement.

In the four-month period, 110 new beneficiaries were added and 1,350 have signed the house reconstruction agreement with the NRA.

A month ago, the NRA had announced the new and last deadline for families whose house was partially or completely damaged in the 2015 earthquake, asking them to obtain the housing grant. The new announcement extended the deadline for signing the grant agreement to mid-December and for obtaining the first installment of the grant to January 2021.

It also said that the families who received the first installment of the grant must start rebuilding their house and get it certified by the respective local body by mid-February 2021.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction of Durbar High School and Ranipokhari alongside Balgopaleshwor has been completed and they have been opened for the public. In addition to that, 22-storey Dharhara tower, which is under-construction, has got its 19^th storey done.

NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyawali said that about Rs. 7.84 billion was spent in the reconstruction sector in the four-month period.

Stating that the reconstruction body has about 7 months’ period to achieve the reconstruction target, he said that all efforts must be made to complete the remaining works.

“We need to motivate the beneficiaries to rebuild their homes as soon as possible and promote building back better,” he said.

Likewise, the reconstruction body has approved the request of 1,448 landless families to build their houses in places where they have been residing.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 December 2020.