Deputy Director General of CBS Rudra Suwal said that over 90 percent of the damage assessment survey in the 11 districts has been completed and the entire survey task will be completed by the next two weeks.The survey is the key basis for establishing the victims whose houses were damaged by earthquake and distributing the grant amounts of Rs 200,000 as financial support for rebuilding.
According to CBS, the survey of almost 700,000 houses has been completed so far out of the estimated 750,000 to 800,000 houses in the 11quake-affected districts. Based on these findings, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) will decide who are eligible for the financial support.
Deputy Director General Suwal said the survey in 200 VDCs out of the total 575 VDCs in the 11 districts has been completed and surveys in the remaining 375 VDCs are in the final phase of completion. "In the remaining 375 VDCs as well, over 90 percent of the survey task has been completed. We are working to complete the entire survey by the next two weeks," he added.
Expressing serious concern over delay in the survey, NRA two weeks ago directed CBS to complete the task as soon as possible, as NRA could not otherwise expand its grant distribution to the victims in the other quake-hit areas.
CBS, in coordination with a non-government organization, mobilized over 1,600 engineers on January 24 for the survey in the 11 districts.
NRA aims to complete grant agreements with the quake victims before the start of the coming monsoon. But due to delay in the survey, the authority has been able to reach grant agreements with the victims in only 10 VCDs in the 11 districts.
NRA on April 4 started the process of grant distribution in Okhareni of Ramechhap district, Ratmata Jhangajholi of Sindhuli, Marpak of Dhading, Kharanitar of Nuwakot, Briding of Rasuwa, Hansapur of Gorkha, Rumjatar of Okhaldhunga and Rabiopi of Kavrepalanchowk.Almost two weeks earlier, it started the grant distribution in the Singati area of Dolakha district.
"As the survey is completed, we will begin grant distribution in the other areas of the affected districts," said NRA Spokesperson Ram Thapaliya.
NRA officials said NRA is identifying the victims eligible for the grant amounts in the 200 VDCs where the survey task has been completed.
However, NRA and CBS have no plans to start the damage assessment survey in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley in the immediate future. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his televised address to the nation on the eve of the Nepali New Year, had said that the survey task in the Valley will begin from this month.
"Nothing has been done for beginning the survey in the Valley. It may take some time for it to begin here," said Suwal of CBS.
Around 80,000 houses were completely damaged and 75,000 partially damaged in the Valley during the earthquakes, according to the Home Ministry.
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