Kathmandu, May 2

National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has called on the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) to complete the task of building a model settlement in Laprak of Gorkha district within two years.

The NRA, the NRNA and the Central Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Urban Development had signed a tripartite agreement on development of the settlement on April 24 as part of the post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation drive.

As per the agreement, the NRNA must get the master plan for development of the settlement approved by the NRA within a month of entering into the deal. It should then immediately initiate the task of building the settlement, where all basic public services, like drinking water and sanitation facilities and power supply, will be available.

“The development of the new settlement, which we hope will turn into a tourism village, involves relocation of the entire settlement to the top of a hill located nearby. The NRNA will then have to support construction of around 573 houses,” NRA Spokesperson Ram Prasad Thapaliya told The Himalayan Times.

The NRA has allowed extension of grant of up to Rs 250,000 to build each house in the relocated settlement. This amount is Rs 50,000 higher than the grant amount of

Rs 200,000 that the NRA is extending to other owners, whose houses were completely damaged by quakes of last April and May.

“The extra amount is being given to cover the cost of transporting construction materials,” Thapaliya said, adding, “The house owners will have to build the house themselves based on design approved by the NRA.”

Since this grant is being extended by NRNA, NRA has officially asked Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) not to distribute the grant amount in the area.

Also, the NRA has asked the MoFALD to propose budget required for development of basic public infrastructure in the model settlement and the Ministry of Energy to deliver electricity. It has also asked the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation to identify drinking water sources and propose budget required to set up drinking water and sanitation facilities in the settlement.

Joint secretaries appointed

KATHMANDU: National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has appointed joint secretaries for six of its sub-regional offices located in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Dolakha and Gorkha. Khomraj Koirala, Ramesh Kumar KC, Suman Dahal, Narayan Prasad Sapkota, Shivaram Neupane and Jitendra Basnet will now head sub-regional offices located in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Dolakha and Gorkha, respectively, a statement issued on Monday by the NRA states. The sub-regional office located in Kathmandu will oversee reconstruction and rehabilitation works in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur districts. The sub-regional office located in Lalitpur will supervise works in Lalitpur and Makwanpur districts. Likewise, Kavrepalanchowk office will oversee works in Kavre and Sindhuli districts, Nuwakot office will supervise works in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts, Gorkha office will oversee works in Gorkha and Dhading districts, and Dolakha office will oversee works in Dolakha, Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts, says the NRA statement.