Pokhara, November 29

A budget of around Rs 30.3 billion has been estimated for reconstruction of Gorkha district that was ravaged by the April 25 earthquake.

According to the plan unveiled today in Pokhara, at least three years will be needed for the task. The budget and timeframe was made public at the closing session of a three-day conference on three-phase reconstruction and 12-point declaration today. The declaration, committed to construct an earthquake memorial at Barpark and concluded with the slogan “Safe, stable and prosperous Gorkha, our commitment”.

The 12-point declaration was unveiled with the initiative of District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee, Gorkha in coordination with national as well as international donor agencies after the government delayed the formation of the Reconstruction Authority. The reconstruction project was prepared with the coordination of UNDP, DFID, CRS, OXFAM and Eco Nepal, among other donor agencies.

It has been said that necessary budget will be collected jointly from the government and donor agencies. The project will appeal to District Disaster Rescue Committee, DDC, donor agencies, development partners and the government for the reconstruction budget. The conference concluded that the new structures for schools, houses and government offices will be earthquake resistant.

The conference demanded additional transport support for victims of remote areas, besides the two lakh rupees grant for construction of houses. “We have also decided to develop strategies to lure use and investment of internal as well as external resources for reconstruction of places of historical, religious and tourism significance,” said Gorkha Chief District Officer Uddhav Prasad Timalsina. Seismological study and resource centre will be established at Barpark, epicentre of the April 25 earthquake.