Miscellaneous
Ministry seeks Rs 5 billion for rebuilding, rehab
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has sought Rs 5 billion from the government to rebuild damaged infrastructure in the quake-affected districtsBhadra Sharma
The action plan, forwarded recently to the National Planning Commission (NPC), is awaiting approval. The plan, according to the officials involved in its drafting, aims to construct community building at each election constituency in the districts hit the hardest by the earthquakes.
“This earthquake was a great lesson for us and construction of community building in each election constituency is need of the hour,” said ministry spokesperson Purna Chandra Bhattarai.
The ministry estimated Rs 1.5 billion would be needed for the construction of such community buildings in quake-affected districts. Such buildings are expected to be useful in carrying out rescue operations and to be used as temporary shelter in times of natural crises.
With thousands of people rendered homeless by the Great Earthquake on April 25 and aftershocks, the ministry has proposed Rs 1.5 billion ‘Cash for Work’ programme in the 14 worst-affected districts to provide livelihood opportunities to the local people. “The programme will help for early recovery of quake victims,” Bhattarai said.
The ministry has already launched pilot programme in three of the worst-hit VDCs in Sindhupalchok—Karthali, Irkhu and Kunchok. The government has decided to mobilise a technician team from the centre to train the local people in clearing debris and hand them over safety equipment to implement the programme.
The ministry has also sought Rs 2 billion in additional funds to rebuild rural roads and other infrastructure. The devastating April 25 quake and its aftershocks destroyed as many as 78 VDC offices, damaging more than 400 others. Five District Development Committee office buildings in Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Solukhumbu and eight municipality offices have also been destroyed in the tremors.
The ministry officials said at least Rs 500 million would be required to repair and rebuild the damaged structures of the local bodies. “Otherwise, it will be difficult to run services from the damaged offices,” said Rishi Acharya, head of Disaster Management Division at the ministry.