KATHMANDU, May 1: The government on Thursday decided to set up a fund of Rs 200 billion for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures and heritage sites.
A cabinet meeting held at the Office of Prime Minister at Singha Durbar decided to initially deposit Rs 20 billion from its side and seek the rest from external donors for reconstruction of damaged infrastructures and heritage sites. "We will seek additional funds from the international community and donor agencies," said Government spokesperson Minendra Rijal.
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Minister for Finance Ram Saran Mahat and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Pandey have been entrusted with seeking funds from donors. The government has yet to estimate the damages caused by the earthquake.
According to Rijal, the fund could be used for reconstruction of damaged schools, colleges, health centers, historical and heritage sites. The cabinet meeting also decided to provide relief to those displaced by the quake. It has also decided to provide them concessional loans to rebuild their houses. Those whose houses have been partially damaged in the earthquake will get Rs 25,000, said Rijal. The government has also decided to relocate families displaced by the quake to safer places.Similarly, the government has formally decided to provide Rs 40,000 for the funeral of each deceased and 100,000 to the family of the deceased. Each injured will get Rs 25,000 for treatment. However, victims with spinal injury will get additional payment for treatment.
Meanwhile, the meeting also declared two more districts -- Makwanpur and Okhaldhunga -- as crisis zones. Altogether 12 districts were declared crisis zones.
The cabinet has entrusted Prime Minister Sushil Koirala with monitoring and coordinating relief efforts at the center. "The relief distribution will be monitored by political parties for transparency," said Rijal.
