50 pc quake-hit private houses rebuilt: NRA

Published On: April 24, 2019 08:45 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, April 24: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) claimed on Tuesday that 80 percent of the beneficiaries of the private housing reconstruction grants have either completed reconstruction or started rebuilding their houses.

Organizing a press conference at its office, the NRA said that 50 percent of the beneficiaries of the grant have already completed the reconstruction of their houses. Out of the 762,307 households that had signed the grant agreements, 612,935 have either completed construction or are rebuilding. Among them, 382,277 (50 percent) households have already completed reconstruction and have started living in their new homes, while 230,658 (30 percent) households are in the process of completing the reconstruction.

“The authority has realized that the reconstruction of heritage sites will take more time,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali said at the function, adding, “Reconstruction of archeological heritage sites is complex and time consuming as issues like architecture, use of traditional construction materials, their sentimental attachment with the daily lives of the local communities and ensuring their ownership need to be considered.”

The NRA reported that reconstruction of heritage sites in 11 most affected districts have achieved 59 percent progress. A total of 753 monuments needed to be rebuilt, out of which, 224 (30 percent) have already been reconstructed while 221 (29 percent) are currently under construction.

The reconstruction body also informed that 59 percent of the schools hit by the earthquake have completed reconstruction. Out of 7,553 schools that needed reconstruction, 4,476 have already been rebuilt while 1,772 are currently under reconstruction.

Similarly, the authority has claimed in a statement that 54 percent of the earthquake-hit health facilities have completed reconstruction. Out of the total 1,197 health institutions needing reconstruction, 643 have been rebuilt while 145 (12 percent) are currently under reconstruction.