Private house reconstruction progress 77 pc

Kathmandu, Dec. 25: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has said that there has been 77 percent progress in the reconstruction of private housing, out of which 45 percent houses have already been rebuilt while 32 percent are under construction.

The NRA published the progress made in the post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation during three years of its establishment amidst a programme on Tuesday. The day marked the three years of the establishment of the reconstruction body.

It also unveiled the plans for the next two years of its tenure.

"The NRA has signed the government’s private housing grant agreement with 742,135 beneficiaries, out of which 337,319 have completed rebuilding their houses while 233,343 houses are currently under construction," said Sushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the NRA.

Similarly, 80 percent progress has been made in school rebuilding. About 55 percent of the schools have already been reconstructed while 25 percent of them are currently under construction.

Out of the 7,553 damaged schools, 4,172 have been reconstructed while 1,921 are under construction.

Likewise, 66 percent progress has been made in the rebuilding of health institutions, 95 percent in government buildings, 54 percent in security sector buildings and 68 percent in the cultural heritage sites.

“We are on the right track to complete the reconstruction of private housing within this fiscal year,” said Gyawali.

He also said that the NRA was also giving utmost priority to the economic and social rehabilitation, along with the reconstruction of houses.

The NRA has received proposals for the development of 37 integrated settlement, and it has approved the plan of 29 of them. Two integrated settlements were completed with the help from development partners.

In order to attract more families to the integrated settlement, the government has announced the scheme to provide Rs. 500,000, Rs. 400,000 and Rs. 300,000 to each families in Himali, Hill and Terai region as the infrastructure development grant.

The reconstruction body is preparing a master plan to crate 52 heritage settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and in other districts.

Special standards for the traditional heritage settlement have been approved and is in implementation.

Currently, Bungmati, Khokana and Sankhu in the Valley, Nuwakot Palace Area in Nuwakot district, Gorkha Palace in Gorkha district and Bhimeshwor Temple in Dolakha districts are being developed as the heritage cities.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 December 2018.