With concerns from the donor community that quake response and rebuilding efforts were not organised, the Cabinet is gearing up to set up the reconstruction committee ahead of the international donors’ conference scheduled for June 25. Other concerns of the development partners are about the delay in the post disaster needs assessment report, the government’s “focus on process and protocol”, and the short notice for the donor meeting.

“We have drafted the law to govern the new body and handed it over to the political leadership,” said Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal, who led the task force for the legislation.

According to him, the draft proposes that land acquisition, procurement and environment impact assessment processes should be shortened in order to complete reconstruction works on time.

The incumbent public procurement is lengthy and cumbersome. “The 45-day tender maturity period delays logistics procurement so we need to shorten it,” said an official involved in the drafting.