Kathmandu, November 22

Reconstruction of 62 per cent of private houses that were damaged during the 2015 earthquake has been completed so far, while 24 per cent of such houses are being rebuilt, as per the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).

Presenting the post-earthquake reconstruction progress at the Parliamentary Development and Technology Committee today, NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali informed that reconstruction of 479,545 houses has been finished till date while reconstruction of 189,141 such houses is ongoing.

A meeting being held at National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), led by Chief Executive Officer of NRA Sushil Gyanwali, in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on Friday, November 22, 2019. Photo: Twitter/NRANepal

Gyewali claimed that reconstruction progress can be put at 86 per cent of quake-affected houses if houses that are currently being reconstructed are also taken into account.

The NRA had inked housing grant agreement with 776,427 households. Under three tranches — Rs 100,000, Rs 150,000 and Rs 100,000 — NRA is providing altogether Rs 350,000 as housing grant for these beneficiaries to rebuild their houses.

As per NRA, 99 per cent of housing grant beneficiaries have taken the first tranche of the housing grant from the government, while 80 per cent have taken the second tranche of housing grant. Similarly, 67 per cent of the beneficiaries have taken the third tranche of housing grant from NRA, according to Gyewali.

Private house reconstruction update

Household surveyed

1,036,568

Eligible for household grants

820,610

Retrofitting beneficiaries identified

69,973

Agreement signed with beneficiary

776,427

Private houses reconstructed

479,545

Private houses being rebuilt

189,141

Vulnerable settlements identified

4,929

Vulnerable settlements resettled

4,204

Source: NRA

He also informed that NRA has successfully resettled 4,204 vulnerable settlements to secured places out of 4,929 identified vulnerable settlements after the earthquake.

NRA statistics show that the reconstruction of 71 per cent of 7,553 quake-affected schools has been completed, while 24 per cent of them are under construction. Likewise, reconstruction of 58 per cent of 1,197 health institutions affected by the earthquake has been completed, whereas reconstruction of 14 per cent of affected health institutions is underway.

The reconstruction of 51 per cent of 753 cultural heritage sites affected by the earthquake across seven most affected districts has been completed, while reconstruction of 16 per cent of such cultural monuments is underway.

“Reconstruction of Ranipokhari, Dharahara, Singha Durbar and Kastamandap is ongoing at a good pace.”

Kalyani Khadka, chairman of the Parliamentary Development and Technology Committee, asked NRA to give high priority to reconstruction of damaged houses by the earthquake.

“Similarly, NRA and the government should also give due priority to enhance the livelihood of quake-affected people and ensure availability of subsidised loan facilities to the quake victims,” she said.

The mandate of NRA is expiring on December 25, 2020.