The survey is the key basis to carry out the entire reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the authority responsible for carrying out the survey for the authority, is deploying around 450 engineers in the 10 severely-affected districts in the first phase in collaboration with a non-governmental organization Health Research and Social Development Forum (HERD).
According to deputy director general of CBS, Rudra Suwal, the engineers will be mobilized in Okhaldunga, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Makwanpur, Gorkha and Sindhuli districts in the first phase.
"A team of engineers are already carrying out the survey in Dolakha district. Now, the survey will be expanded to other 10 districts. We aim to complete the survey in each district by 45 days of its beginning," Suwal said.
He, however, said that the survey in three districts of the capital -- Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur -- will be carried out in the later phases.
An engineer will be accompanied by a local social mobilizer during the survey and the team will keep a record of the damaged structures, said CBS officials.
"In the second phase, we will deploy additional 500 engineers in the 10 districts. We need over 1,500 engineers to carry out the survey in full-fledged fashion," added Suwal.
He said that the authority was facing tough time recruiting engineers for the survey. "We have not been able to recruit sufficient engineers. So, it may delay the survey a little. The same engineers that are being deployed now may have to be redeployed for further survey," he added.
The NRA has come under criticism for allowing a non-governmental organization to hire engineers and carry out the survey when it could have been carried out by the existing government mechanism.
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