Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat today called on international non-government organisations (INGOs), NGOs and others planning to engage in reconstruction of houses destroyed or damaged by earthquake to follow the designs created by the government to ensure uniformity in housing units built for victims.

The government has already said it would come up with several designs of low-cost earthquake-resistant houses, which would be built for people who have been rendered homeless since the quake.

“We want INGOs, NGOs and others planning to build houses to follow these designs, so that there is uniformity in houses built for quake victims,” the minister told a conference organised here today by Nepal Economic Association, adding, “Huge disparity in design and quality of houses may create resentment among people, which may even create social problems.”

The minister said he also discussed this issue today with representatives of two donor countries, without revealing their identities. “They have agreed to this proposal.”

The National Planning Commission (NPC) is currently taking the lead in formulating recovery and reconstruction plan, including drawing up designs of houses for those who have become homeless.

In this regard, the NPC, in coordination with Ministry of Urban Development, Institute of Engineering, Nepal Engineers Association and Society of Nepalese Architects, is holding an exhibition on Friday.

“We have asked architects and engineers to present prototypes or designs of low-cost earthquake-resistant houses at the exhibition,” NPC Joint Secretary Gopi Nath Mainali told The Himalayan Times. “We hope the exhibition would work as a platform for the government to gather ideas that could be implemented during reconstruction phase.”

The earthquake has so far destroyed 488,789 private houses and damaged another 267,477 houses.

Although the government has said it would rebuild houses for the earthquake victims, it has asked people not to rely too much on the government.

“Government would definitely help the victims, but they should also participate in reconstruction works,” Minister Mahat said.

source: the himalayan times,18 may 2015