The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) said that preparations for the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction (ICNR), 2021 has reached the final stage.
On Friday, it launched a webpage (www.icnr.nra.gov.np) dedicated for the conference.
Dr. Chandra Bahadur Shrestha, Member of the NRA's Steering Committee and Coordinator of the ICNR 2021, said that it was challenging to carry out the reconstruction at a mega scale in a country like Nepal.
"We would like to tell the success story to the world as well as the future generations. Objectives of the conference are to record and disseminate learned lessons and best practices for Nepal's future generations and international community," he said.
The conference also aims at strengthening relationship between government and multilateral agencies, bilateral agencies and civil society considering way forward on resilient Nepal, and inform the government about the disaster-related laws and policies.
Chief Executive Officer of the NRA Sushil Gyawali said that the reconstruction body had handed over the responsibilities of the remaining rebuilding works to the other concerned government agencies.
International community and stakeholders had suggested us to organise an event to share the experiences and learning in the post-quake reconstruction, he shared.
He said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority would act as the successor of the reconstruction body. "By 2030, Nepal has aimed to create disaster-resilient Nepal. Planning and programmes are being devised for the same," said Gyawali.
However, he said that the greatest achievement made in the past six years was the awareness about the quake-resilient construction on the part of people.
Meanwhile, integrated settlement programmes in core city areas in the Kathmandu Valley could not be implemented as planned.
"We had selected some areas for urban revival programmes – Khokana, Bungmati and Sankhu. Changes are visible in Bungmati, the city is gradually having the traditional look," said Gyawali.
However, house pooling could not be materialised as planned. A programme for the traditional city revival is decided by the Steering Committee of the NRA.
Three-day conference
The international conference is slated for December 7-9. Delegates will arrive on December 7 and there will be site visits and welcome dinner for the VVIP guests, said Dr. Shrestha.
The conference will begin on December 8. There will be separate sessions for political parties, journalists, non-government organisations, private sector and other stakeholders.
Leaders from the reconstruction bodies in New Zealand, Pakistan, India, France, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom will participate in the deliberations during the conference. It will be attended by the representatives of the bilateral and multilateral agencies.
It has been a year since the NRA began preparations for the ICNR and it has organised seminars, workshops, published research articles in international journals, created a mobile app, and managed the logistics for the conference.
Second edition
This conference is the continuation or conclusion of the first ICNR organised in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015. The first conference had been instrumental in managing resources needed for the post-quake reconstruction, primarily the rebuilding of the private houses.
Donors and friendly countries had expressed commitment of Rs. 410 billion for the rebuilding, of which Rs. 89 billion was spent on rescue and relief operations and other development activities.
According to the NRA, it had signed agreement for Rs. 313 billion with the donors which is 97.5 per cent of the actual commitment for the support. "The support we received during the difficult times following the earthquake is significant even in comparison with the other countries facing the same difficulties," said Gyawali.
The tremors had killed 8,970 people and damaged more than 800,000 houses across 32 districts in mid and eastern hills and mountains.
The government had enacted the NRA as an agency to carry out reconstruction of the private houses, health and education facilities and other infrastructure with a five-year term. Its tenure was extended by a year through a Cabinet decision last year.
More than 700,000 earthquake-resilient houses have been built since then. Cultural and historical heritages like Ranipokhari, Dharhara, palaces, temples and monasteries have been rebuilt.
The NRA will cease to exist from 24 January, 2022.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 October 2021.
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