House reconstruction satisfactory

Third Anniversary of the Gorkha Earthquake 2015

Kathmandu, Apr. 24: As it has been three years since the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015 hit the nation and caused a heavy loss of lives and properties, there has been significant progress in rebuilding of the private houses.

As per the statistics of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), by Tuesday, reconstruction of approximately 141,626 houses is completed while more than 436,000 houses are being rebuilt in the quake-hit 32 districts.

The NRA has been saying that its top priority was to complete the reconstruction of the private houses in the 5-year tenure of the reconstruction body.

House reconstruction is significant in terms of shelter, security, social prestige and wellbeing of the family members. People in temporary shelters are more vulnerable to various diseases and other hazards as well.

"The NRA has aimed at completing 450,000 houses by mid-July 2018. Therefore, we have focused our efforts in that direction – human resources for the reconstruction are being trained, installations of the house reconstruction grant are paid in simplified manner, retrofitting of the partially houses is being commenced very soon," said Chief Executive Officer of the NRA Yuba Raj Bhusal.

Last month the reconstruction body had concluded that though there had been significant progress in the rebuilding drive, retrofitting couldn't catch the desired speed, and has decided to run a separate campaign for retrofitting private houses that received minor damage in the quake but are fit to live in with general maintenance.

About 24,991 houses in all 32 districts are in the retrofitting list.

Similarly, the government is constructing more than 18,000 houses for the vulnerable people including elderly, single women, orphans below 16 years of age and people with complete and severe disability.

The NRA said that about 6,000 vulnerable households have been constructing their house with government grant but more than 18,000 elderly people and senior single women and children below 16 years of age are unable to build their house themselves even with the government support.

There has been significant progress in grant distribution with 696,809 families, of total 767,705 beneficiaries, receiving the first tranche of the grant.

Likewise, the NRA has approved grant application of 371,691 families for the second tranche while 328,808 families have received second instalment of the money.

"About 118,662 households have been found eligible for the final instalment of the grant. 93,019 families have already received the money," said Bhusal.

He said in a press meet on Tuesday that of the 7,553 damaged educational institutions, 3,613 were reconstructed and 1,719 are being rebuilt.

Similarly, 586 health institutions are rebuilt and 180 are under construction.

Of the damaged 379 government buildings 220 were rebuilt and 147 are under construction.

Likewise, reconstruction of 100 heritages has been completed while 329 are under construction, some of them with foreign support.

The quake had killed about 9,000 people and damaged properties, including private houses, and educational, health, water supply and transport infrastructure, wort Rs. 900 billion.

About 900,000 houses were completely or partially damaged in the tremors.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 April 2018.