SINDHUPALCHOWK, Feb 10: After almost two years of the devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.8, victims of Sindhupalchowk district are finally starting to receive their second tranche of the reconstruction grant.

The distribution of the second installment of Rs 150,000 to quake victims is currently underway in one of the worst-hit districts. Quake victims from areas such as Gomba and Golche VDCs have finally started receiving the reconstruction tranche from Thursday.

According to Rajendra Nepal, planning, monitoring and administrative officer of the District Development Committee (DDC) of Sindhupalchowk, the second tranche has been deposited in bank accounts of 63 households - 34 from Gomba and 29 from Golche. 

The amount is being distributed as per the recommendation of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC). 

“We will make the quake reconstruction grant available as per the recommendation of the PIU,” Nepal informed. “National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has delegated the local authorities to distribute Rs 990 million to quake victims,” he added. The amount would be sufficient to distribute second tranche grant to 6,600 victims.

The government had decided to distribute Rs 300,000 to quake victims for reconstruction.

Prior to the second tranche, quake victims had received Rs 50,000 as the first tranche for reconstruction. The second tranche amount would be followed by Rs 100,000 as the third tranche reconstruction grant.

Sindhupalchowk is one of the worst-hit districts by the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, which had its epicenter in Barpak of Gorkha district.

Almost after two years, Sindhupalchowk is slowly recovering with the increase in pace of reconstruction. From east of Tatopani to west of Helambu, reconstruction works seem to be picking up pace gradually, with more and more locals working to construct permanent shelter for themselves.

Apart from Listi VDC in the east, reconstruction works have started in the district's two municipalities and 67 VDCs. According DUDBC's Division Office at Sindhupalchowk, 4,647 houses are currently under construction.

“Construction works are gradually taking place. But we are not in a position to become satisfied with it,” said Dr Yuwaraj Paudel, chief engineer of the division.

However, quake victims, who already had been burdened with hassles of receiving the first tranche, have complained of hassles of receiving the second tranche as well. Lengthy paper works and bureaucratic hassles have troubled the victims.

 
• devastating earthquake
 
• sindhupalchowk
 
• second tranche
 
• reconstruction grant