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ADB, govt begin construction of quake-hit office buildings
The government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday commenced construction of government office buildings that were damaged or destroyed by devastating earthquakes of April and May, 2015.The government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday commenced construction of government office buildings that were damaged or destroyed by devastating earthquakes of April and May, 2015.
Ram Prasad Thapaliya, joint secretary of the National Reconstruction Authority, and Kenichi Yokoyama, ADB country director, kick started the reconstruction process by laying the foundation for reconstruction of the District Forest Office in Dhading, where eight government office buildings will be rebuilt, says a statement issued by the ADB.
The ADB, the Manila-based multilateral lender, is helping the government rebuild office buildings under the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project (EEAP).
The EEAP has signed contracts to rebuild 10 buildings, while notifications on contract award for construction of another 10 buildings have also been issued. Also, bid invitations have been published for construction of six buildings, while detailed engineering designs of 15 buildings are currently being prepared. The devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, and the subsequent aftershocks, including a major one on May 12, destroyed 193 government buildings and partially damaged 510 other buildings in 31 districts of the country.
To rebuild these buildings, the government has implemented the $232 million EEAP of which $200 million, or 87 percent, has been provided by the ADB and $32 million, or 13 percent, has been contributed by the government.
One of the major components of the EAAP is the reconstruction of government buildings in 11 of the 14 districts worst hit by the earthquake to help the government deliver public services and enhance good governance.
The reconstruction of government office buildings will be implemented in two phases, as per the statement. First phase of work includes reconstruction of buildings that belong to the district administrative offices, the district forest offices and the district courts, which will cost an estimated Rs117 million.
The second phase of work includes construction of buildings belonging to the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office, district agriculture development offices and district post offices.
Other components of the EEAP include the reconstruction of schools as well as strategic and district roads.
“The government is planning to complete the rebuilding and retrofitting of government buildings within the next 3 years,” Ministry of Urban Development Joint Secretary Shiva Hari Sharma told the programme held to lay the foundation in Dhading.
He urged local political leaders, government personnel, and people in the community to extend all their support so that the reconstruction work completes on time.
“The main principle of reconstruction-build back better-will be fully adopted in the reconstruction of government buildings,” Yokoyama said. “Under this project, the buildings will be earthquake-resilient, friendly to the differently-abled and the environment, spacious, well equipped and furnished.”
Efforts will also be made to relocate government buildings closer to each other, as per the concept of integrated government buildings adopted by the NRA.