KATHMANDU, Sept 22: A Directorate Committee meeting of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) that is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee reconstruction of houses and other important structures devastated by the earthquake has recommended extending the term NRA for a year. The current term of the NRA is expiring on December 25.
A 17th meeting of the NRA Directorate Committee held under the chair of Prime Minister K P Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar on Monday made a decision to this effect. A cabinet meeting currently underway in Baluwatar is expected to take a formal decision to extend the term of the NRA.
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NRA's Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali said they could not accomplish all tasks despite achieving modest successes in a number of works due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the recommendation to extend the term of NRA for one more year was made to accomplish remaining construction works of Dharahara (i.e. view tower) being built in Sundhara, reconstruction of private housing and a number other important structures devastated by the major earthquake that hit the country in April, 2015.
The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC) Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand was among those attending the meeting. The NRA will complete remaining reconstruction works in the first six months of the extended term while it will audit all its income and expenditure and handover its works to various government agencies concerned and local level in the remaining six month period.