The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has approved the preliminary plan for the development of integrated settlements at five sites in Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap and Kavre districts.

The NRA’s executive committee meeting on Wednesday— the first since the appointment of Sushil Gyewali as the authority’s CEO— gave the go-ahead to the preliminary plan of developing integrated settlements to relocate the quake-affected households.

The decision has paved the way for the Central Level Project Implementation Units and District Level Project Implementation Units of the authority to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the plan.

The NRA has proposed Norbuling Integrated Settlement in Helambu Rural Municipality, Tyangthali Integrated Settlement in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality and Namdolling Integrated Settlement in Melamchi Municipality of Sindhupalchok district; Majhi Basti Gaikhura Integrated Settlement at Manthali Municipality in Ramechhap district; and Tindhara Home Stay and Model Tamang Integrated Settlement at Mandan Deupur Municipality in Kavre district.

The plan states that the integrated settlements in Sindhupalchok would accommodate 120 houeholds, while those in Ramechhap and Kavre would offer shelters to 24 and 37 households respectively.

“We aim to expedite the process of building integrated settlements. This is the first initiative towards meeting that end,” Gyewali told the Post. “The process of preparing DPR will be completed within a month.”  

A Cabinet meeting in 2015 had agreed to build integrated settlements in those districts severely affected by the earthquake.

The reconstruction body has so far identified 125 settlements in the quake-affected districts.

Gyewali said that the authority expects to develop around 50-52 integrated settlements based on the need and cooperation from the quake survivors.

The planned settlements would have facilities like roads, drinking water, electricity, public toilets, health posts, community buildings and schools.

“Such amenities will be funded by the government,” Gyewali said.  

Central project units to have 4,417 staff

The NRA’s executive committee meeting on Wednesday agreed to set the number of staff for Central Level Project Implementation Units at 4,417. It decided  3,250 employees would be involved in the actual rebuilding process, 463 staff for education, and 704 to handle the Grant Management and Local Infrastructure.