KATHMANDU, AUGUST 5

The House of Representatives' Development and Technology Committee has directed the government to complete the remaining works of the post-earthquake reconstruction in time.

The committee's meeting today instructed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to provide resources, including human resources required for completing the remaining works. It also praised the National Reconstruction Authority for carrying out 'significant' works related to reconstruction of infrastructure such as private houses, schools, health facilities, government buildings and water supply projects.

NRA and the government have been instructed to guarantee resources for conservation of structures already constructed.

Committee President Kalyani Kumari Khadka said the Authority had made good progress despite the impact of COVID-19 on the one hand, and the political change on the other. She said the NRA was moving ahead resolving various problems such as local, social, economic and workers' shortage, among others.

She said now was the time to think of sustainability of the work already carried out and how to expedite the remaining works.

Committee member Yagya Raj Sunar said the NRA had also achieved success in the reconstruction of private houses. He urged the government to listen to grievances that remain to be addressed.

Committee member Kedar Sigdel opined that the project of resolving unmanaged settlements should be completed soon. He added that the Authority had done notable work during the time of pandemic.

Similarly, Bina Kumari Shrestha argued that landslide and flood victims should be shifted to safer zones.

Gajendra Bahadur Mahat spoke of the need to complete the construction of Dharahara, adding that it appeared to be completed from the outside, but remained incomplete inside.

Likewise, Tek Bahadur Basnet said that some national pride projects were found incomplete even after 20 years, but the authority done its best works in six years.

NRA executive officer Sushil Gyawali said reconstruction of private houses would be completed in the extended time frame. He said flood and landslide were obstructing reconstruction works in some areas.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 6 2021, of The Himalayan Times.