Distribute second tranche to quake survivors in three months-PAC

Kathmandu / Feb 8: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government to distribute grants of second tranche to the earthquake survivors within three months.

After the meeting today, PAC Chairperson Dor Prasad Upadhyay directed the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to work in such a way that the capital expenditure would not freeze.

“The NRA formed after the 2015 earthquake for the reconstruction has so far spent only five percent of total development budget. The mechanism should work so as to increase capital spending and expedite reconstruction activities to bring back the earthquake survivors residing under the tent to their permanent residence”, he noted.

The NRA instructed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and NRA to keep PAC timely informed of the progress on reconstruction and rehabilitation works, mobilize reconstruction fund and deliver result-oriented performance by formulating necessary policies to that effect.

Speaking on the occasion, Nepali Congress lawmaker Dr Minendra Rijal said there has been inadequate number of skilled human resource for reconstruction works in quake affected districts so the urgent need is to provide training and produce human resource required for the purpose.

Lawmaker Mohan Bahadur Basnet drew attention of the authorities concerned to correct the list of earthquake affected people as the genuine survivors have not been enlisted.

Also speaking on the occasion were lawmakers including Ram Hari Khatiwada, Rajendra Kumar KC, Pashupati Chaulagain, Rupa Maharjan, Usha Gurung, Manju Kumari Chaudhary, Hari Charan Saha, Bikas Lamsal, Yogendra Ghising Tamang, Radha Krishna Kandel, Dil Bahadur Nepali, Lagendra Mandal and Bad Saha Kurmi.

Responding to the queries raised by the lawmakers, NRA Chief Executive Officer Prof Dr Govinda Raj Pokharel expressed complaint that the Ministries have delayed sending the human resource interested to work being the part of the NRA.

“The low capital spending is because of lack of technical human resource. NRA is preparing to decentralize the mechanism to listen to complaints of victims. The Ambassadors also have voiced their concern that the NRA mechanism did not perform well; there is no situation for employees to perform freely”, Pokharel responded.

Pokharel further noted that the reconstruction of archaeological heritages would not be undertaken properly by handing over the responsibility to contractors. Dr Pokharel is of the opinion that the main building of Singha Durbar should be protected in such a way that its historical structure would not be disfigured and visitors should be allowed to observe the site.

Pokharel also pledged to create environment for the quake survivors who want to construct their houses. RSS