FinMin assures donors of proper utilization of relief funds

KATHMANDU, May 6: Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has assured donor community that not a single penny collected in Prime Minister Relief Fund will be used in administrative, travel and overhead expenses.

Allaying fears among organizations involved in raising funds for quake victims over misuse of fund, Minister Mahat said the government will avoid duplication and carry out relief program in a coordinated manner.

Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, Mahat said the finance ministry has already allocated Rs 4 billion for the relief fund and that the government has already released Rs 2 billion to the fund. He also urged donors to contribute to the fund without any hesitation.Saying that the government's warehouse is already empty, Mahat said relief materials are stock in donors' warehouses. He also appealed to the donor communities to provide relief material like tents or tarpaulin or make financial contribution to the relief fund.

"We need surgery equipment and orthopedic appliances for treatment of injured in the earthquake," Mahat said, adding donors can buy such equipment and provide them to the government.

He also said the government will also think of budget transfer as even regular and capital spending is at very low.

The government spending figures hovers at around only 55 percent of the total budget of Rs 617 billion.

Mahat also said he was planning to hold a conference with donors after making assessment of the damage to collect fund for reconstruction.

The government has already announced a Rs 200-billion reconstruction fund. Mahat said he also held a discussion about reconstruction with representatives of international donor agencies during the annual meeting of Asian Development Bank held in Azerbaijan.

Minister Mahat, who had left for Baku of Azerbaijan on Saturday, had returned home on Tuesday.

GOVT MULLS SEPARATE AGENCY FOR RECONSTRUCTION

Minister Mahat said the government was mulling over forming a separate entity to oversee reconstruction works.

"My views are that a separate entity with special authority to work on fast track mode should be formed," added Mahat.

He also said the government will work in partnership with local people while carrying out reconstruction.

The proposed entity will have the major task of rebuilding individual houses, public buildings and cultural heritage sites.

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