Kathmandu, July 14

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has sought assistance from donor agencies on mason training as the reconstruction process has been delayed due to the shortage of skilled human resources. Even after two years of the devastating earthquakes of 2015, the reconstruction process is yet to move ahead in full-swing.

In this context, Chief Executive Officer of NRA Govinda Raj Pokharel, today, spoke to Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa and sought his cooperation to develop skilled manpower for the reconstruction process.

“We’ve been trying to expedite reconstruction work, but NRA has been facing problems of shortage of skilled workforce, which has directly affected our target,” Pokharel apprised the Japanese envoy. Pokharel also sought Japanese assistance to fill this void during the meeting.

On the occasion, Ambassador Ogawa raised concerns over the delay in reconstruction of Japanese funded programmes and the slow reconstruction process of both Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Squares.

Both the officials also discussed on the progress of reconstruction works led by JICA in the meeting. Japan had pledged $260 million for the reconstruction process during the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction that was organised on June 25, 2015, to seek international assistance. The fund pledged by Japan is being utilised for reconstruction of houses, schools and health facilities.