KATHMANDU: Technicians engaged in building private houses in 14 quake-hit districts under the Ministry of Urban Development have stopped working, citing the non-implementation of the agreement on payment.

A total of 2,650 technicians mobilised in Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts stopped working on building houses, further slowing the reconstruction drive.

Engineer Sanjib Amgain working in Gorkha shared that the technicians halted works demanding timely payment, establishment of offices in village and hearing of people's complaints. The government, as engineer

The government, as engineer Amgain argued, had agreed to provide 50 per cent allowance based on performance and 25 percent allowance for remote posting.

"Even after three months of the agreement, there was no performance standard in place. The employees mobilised in the reconstruction activities in villages should be provided adequate remunerations. We have met Prime Minister twice to this regard, but in vain," he complained.

Similarly, another engineer Kapil Regmi said the reconstruction activities had to be stalled after the government failed to implement the agreement on allowance and services to the technicians.

He further warned that all technical employees would resign en masse on December 20 if the government did not heed their demands till then.

However, Secretary at National Reconstruction Authority, Dr Sanjiv Sharma, said the NRA had already taken a decision about it and the standard for this had reached the final stage.

"The performance standard is being prepared on the scientific basis. Without any policy and rule, the government money cannot be used. The NRA is fully engaged to sort out the technicians' problems. So, they should be serious on earthquake survivors' plight."

Genuine demands of the technicians as determined by the standard would be addressed, he added.