Eighty eight per cent progress has been made in the reconstruction of private houses ever since the Gorkha Earthquake five years back, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) stated.    

According to the NRA data, reconstruction of the private houses of 494 thousand 44 beneficiaries or 63 per cent has been completed so far while the houses of additional 190 thousand 145 or 25 per cent of the beneficiaries are in the reconstruction phase. This means that overall 88 per cent progress has been made in the reconstruction of private houses, the NRA said in a press release on Wednesday.   

It said that the number of beneficiaries certified for payment of the final tranche of the house construction grants has reached 561 thousand 650 or 72 per cent.    

NRA chief executive officer Sushil Gyewali said the NRA has reached to the level wherein it can present before the world the achievements, experience and learning on the post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation with self-confidence and dignity due to the cooperation and goodwill it got from various sectors.    
NRA said the coronavirus pandemic has affected the whole world at present and a lockdown continues in Nepal also for one month, which has affected the reconstruction works. It noted that around 500 thousand grievances have been addressed in the course of reconstruction of the private houses.    

According to NRA, five thousand five hundred and ninety eight or 74 schools out of the total 7,553 school structures damaged by the April 25, 2015 earthquake have been reconstructed. Similarly, 1,492 schools or 20 per cent are under the reconstruction phase.    

NRA stated that 402 out of the 920 heritages damaged by the earthquake have been reconstructed in 32 districts affected by the earthquake. In Kathmandu Valley, 101 heritages out of the 170 heritages damaged by the earthquake have been rebuilt. The remaining 54 or 32 per cent are under reconstruction phase.    

Out of the total 1,197 health facilities damaged by the quake, the reconstruction of 669 has been completed while 154 health structures are under the reconstruction.   

Likewise, 349 out of the total 415 government buildings that suffered damage have been rebuilt. Forty nine government buildings are being rebuilt and most of them are on the verge of completion. One hundred and ninety four buildings of the security bodies have been rebuilt while 22 are under reconstruction phase.    
NRA said land for construction of safe houses has been managed for 4,204 beneficiaries who were living in unsafe locations. Arrangements have been made for construction of private houses for 8,744 landless squatters.   

source: risingnepaldaily, 23 april 2020