Govt finalizes plan for reconstruction authority

Recommends prez to issue ordinance

KATHMANDU, June 22: The government on Sunday finalized the plan for forming a high-level authority to carry out the task of reconstruction after a month-long debate over its leadership, composition, jurisdiction and functioning.

A cabinet meeting on Sunday finalized the plan and decided implement it through an ordinance. Following the decision, the prime minister has recommended the president to issue an ordinance to this effect immediately.

Sources at the president's office said the head of state is likely to endorse the decision by Monday. Once the decision is endorsed, the process to form the authority can be taken ahead. The decision would also have to be endorsed by parliament later.

The government has decided to form an eleven-member reconstruction authority under the leadership of prime minister, who will nominate four ministers in the body.

Chief Secretary and the vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission will be ex-officio members of the body.

The authority shall have five-year tenure, which can be extended by a year at most in special circumstances.

The government shall nominate other three experts and appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) in the body. "The authority will recommend a candidate for appointment as CEO of the body and a cabinet meeting will endorse it," Minister for General Administration Lalbabu Pandit told Republica.

The government shall appoint the CEO for a five-year term but s/he can be removed earlier.

"An aspirant for the CEO's position should have a Masters' degree on relevant subject and 15 years of experience in economic and infrastructure developments sectors," Minister for Industry Mahesh Basnet told Republica.

The authority shall collect and update details of damage and other losses incurred during the earthquake, allocate required budget and mobilize it.

The body is also authorized to mobilize various bodies and staffers under related ministries such as the ministry of local development and urban development or any other ministries as and when needed.

"It has been given extra-ordinary powers to formulate relevant regulations as and when needed. For instance, it has been authorized to acquire land, demolish buildings and determine compensations," said Basnet.

The government has also envisaged a huge advisory committee chaired by the prime minister. Former prime ministers, all sitting ministers, secretaries and chiefs of all political parties represented in parliament will be members of the advisory body. "Basically, it would offer suggestions to the authority," said Basnet.

The cabinet meeting took the decision after receiving a go-ahead from a four-party meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar earlier in the morning. Top leaders from Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) were present at the meeting.

However, UCPN (Maoist) leader and former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai expressed his dissatisfaction over the decision.

"Wondering why the government is bringing an ordinance on forming reconstruction authority without adequate discussions just ahead of the parliament session," wrote Bhattarai on twitter.

Bhattarai had publicly expressed desire to lead the task of reconstruction.