SINDHUPALCHOWK, Dec 4: Kalika village of Sindhupalchowk, the worst-hit district by the devastating earthquakes of 2015, has become the first ward to complete reconstruction in the district.

A total of 653 quake-damaged houses of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3, Kalika have been completely rebuilt. All beneficiaries listed by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) from the village have reconstructed their houses completely. On Sunday, the quake victims were handed over certificates and the ward was declared the first to complete 100% reconstruction in the whole district.

Ganesh Prasad Timalsina, chairperson of National Assembly, Province 3 assembly member Saresh Nepal, vice-chairperson of the Social Welfare Commission Nilmani Baral, Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Adhikari among others reached the village on Sunday to hand over the certificates.

Chairperson Timalsina distributed the certificate of completion of reconstruction to the victims.

This was possible with the technical and financial support from a non-governmental organization named CARITAS Nepal.

The rural municipality's chair Shrawan Kumar GC expressed his happiness for being able to declare Kalika the first ward to complete the reconstruction.

"It is the hard work and efforts of everyone that has made this possible," he said.

Earlier, Barang of Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha had become the first village in the country to complete 100% housing reconstruction. After signing an agreement with the National Reconstruction Authority, CARITAS started running the reconstruction campaign since October 2016. Jhakku Chaudhary, coordinator of the district chapter of CARITAS, informed Republica that all beneficiaries have built their houses as per the housing standards.

The organization had built two houses and a community building for the victims to replicate. Apart from distributing the government assured quake grant to the victims in installments, CARITAS also provided additional Rs 5,000 to each victim family.

Meanwhile, the organization is also assisting the quake victims of Thokarpa of the same rural municipality. Coordinator Chaudhary informed that there are 1,178 beneficiaries in the village.

Locals of Kalika celebrated the completion of rebuilding their houses by singing and dancing. Expressing their gratefulness, they greeted the government authorities with flowers and garlands. After a long halt and delay, reconstruction has been finally intensified in Sindhupalchowk, which was worst hit by the catastrophic earthquake.

As per the records maintained by the District Project Implementation Unit (DPIU), more than 55,000 out of the total 88,000 quake victims in the district have completed reconstruction.

 
• kalika
 
• village
 
• sindhupalchowk
 
• reconstruction