Kathmandu, December 29

The government today sought clarification from Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyewali expressing dissatisfaction with his performance in the post-quake reconstruction front.

A cabinet meeting today morning gave him one week to furnish clarification, Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi told The Himalayan Times.

A source said if Gyewali failed to convince the government, he might be discharged from his duty.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had expressed dissatisfaction with the snail-paced work of the NRA — the apex state-mechanism for steering post-quake reconstruction endeavours.

Issuing a press note regarding the clarification sought by the cabinet, CEO Gyewali said that the NRA had started its work in a well managed and planned way, the results of which were becoming visible gradually.

Saying he would submit his clarification on time, Gyewali further said that the clarification would be helpful in clearing the works, challenges and problems of the NRA; and other relevant government agencies. He also hoped that the clarification would be more supportive of the ongoing reconstruction work.

The prime minister was particularly concerned about the sluggish distribution of the first instalment of housing grant to quake-victims.

The NRA CEO claimed that reconstruction works were being delayed primarily due to lack of cooperation from bureaucrats.

Gyewali was appointed by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government in December 2015.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also revised a guideline relating to provision of grant to rebuild quake-destroyed private houses and hiked the government grant amount from Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000.

The Cabinet also promoted Joint Secretary Begendra Poudel to the post of secretary and posted him as administrator in the mid-west region in Surkhet, according to Chief Secretary Subedi.

The government also decided to accept Rs 2 billion grant from the Asian Development Bank and invest it in the education sector, according to the PM’s Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the government allocated Rs 611.8 million for repairing the dam of the Upper Trishuli A Hydropower Project. Likewise, Rs 4.43 billion has been allocated for drinking water reforms in Pokhara.

In yet another decision, the cabinet appointed Nawal Kishor Yadav and Sangita Khadka to the vacant positions of Press Council Nepal members.

Nepali Army Lieutenant Colonel Rabindra KC was promoted to the post of colonel today.