Parliamentary committee shows concern over NRA performance

Kathmandu / Aug 30: The Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament today summoned the Chief of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and government secretaries to take stock of hurdles surfaced in carrying out post- earthquake reconstruction works.

The NRA chief and government secretaries were asked to inform the Committee about the reasons behind the sluggish progress on the post-disaster reconstruction drive. The NRA, the government body, was formed to rebuild structure damaged by the 2015 ‘Gorkha’ quake. The Committee put queries before the people concerned that how the availability of construction materials would be ensured and standard of the reconstructed structure would be maintained.

In response, NRA chief executive officer Sushil Gyawali said almost a year after the quake was spent in formulating organisational policies of the NRA, assuring of noticeable progress on its works soon.

The beneficiaries of the house rebuilding grants provided by the government were waiting to construct shelter as the rainy season was not yet over, he said, adding that NRA has so far signed the grants agreement with 394,915 house owners who had lost their shelter during the disaster. The survey of 63,603 houses in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur was completed till Monday and the survey of quake-affected houses in the 17 districts is afoot.

Study of 117 areas left vulnerable after the disaster had been completed and study for the development of an integrated settlement for the rehabilitation of 56 settlements has been initiated. Likewise, 82 community buildings were constructed with the help of the Nepal Army and Urban Development Ministry. Rebuilding of 49 sites of archeological importance damaged by the quake has been initiated.

Likewise, process has been initiated to rebuild 1,200 schools through the respective school managements committees while 600 school buildings will be rebuilt with the assistance from the Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency, as stated by the NRA chief executive officer.

The NRA said that the government had allocated Rs 168 billion in the current fiscal to carry out reconstruction of damaged structure while an agreement has already been signed for receiving foreign assistance equivalent to Rs 183 billion. The signing of an agreement for foreign assistance of additional Rs 85 billion has reached final phase.

An agreement has been reached for receiving 80 percent of the assistance amount promised by the international community during the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction, Gyawali said. RSS