The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has delegated authority to its six sub-regional offices to expedite reconstruction activities in coordination with local agencies, NGOs and local communities.

A meeting held on Monday has empowered the sub-regional offices in Gorkha, Dolakha, Kavre, Nuwakot, Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts for a more effective implementation of the reconstruction works, said NRA Spokesperson Ram Prasad Thapaliya.

The sub-regional offices have been delegated to take decisions to register, approve, monitor and evaluate project proposals on providing trainings on livelihood and income generation, along with other reconstruction works except for rebuilding to be implemented by NGOs through local funding.

In addition, the regional offices are allowed to recommend proposals of NGOs that have asked to implement projects by mobilising donor funding, to the NRA central office. The project proposals with donor funding should be discussed and consulted with the local authorities before sending them to the central office.

The sub-regional offices have also been asked to prepare work plan of the NGO-funded projects—signed and approved by the NRA central office—for implementation, and carry out necessary monitoring of the activities of the projects. They are required to send a detailed report on the number of public institutions working on reconstruction and livelihood, including their activities.

Except for those approved by the District Disaster Relief Committee in each earthquake-affected districts, all the projects to be implemented by local agencies and NGOs on rescue and search should be approved by the NRA and its sub-regional offices, said Thapaliya.

The sub-regional offices have also been authorised to conduct Initial Environmental Examination to prepare an inventory survey in affected districts for the relocation and resettlement of rural households in the affected districts. Those offices will have to collect details of heritage sites and monuments in their respective districts along with a detailed project report of small towns and urban settlements with the help of the Department of Archaeology and departments under the Ministry of Urban Development.

The NRA has already released the first instalment of Rs 50,000 out of the promised Rs200,000 rebuilding aid to 6,434 households in 11 districts as of June 27. Similarly, the NRA has signed tripartite agreement with a total of 163,985 households for rebuilding aid in the period.