DHADING, Feb 5: The earthquake in 2015 destroyed private homes, schools, hospitals and government buildings. Nearly five years on, post-quake reconstruction has picked up pace and government buildings are once again rising in the district headquarters and millions of rupees has been spent for that. However, the service-seekers are rarely found in these big government buildings.
The reconstruction of government buildings in the district had begun with the building of the District Soil Conservation Office in September 2016. But this building which was constructed at the cost of more than Rs 22 million could not be used for that purpose. Currently, this building is being used by the District Forest Office. The Forest Office building is, however, under-construction. Government buildings in the district are being reconstructed by the government of Nepal with the help of the Asian Development Bank's loan and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
16 years on, government buildings still not reconstructed
Besides the District Soil Conservation Office building, the reconstruction authority has completed the reconstruction of the Division Cooperative Office building, the building of the training center of District Livestock Office, National Investigation Office, and District Election Office building and these buildings have already come into use. The building of the Division Co-operative Office which was reconstructed at the cost of more than Rs 12.2 million is currently housing members of the Armed Police Force. The APF personnel are using the halls of the Division Cooperative Office which was scrapped after the country adopted federalism.
The reconstruction of the training center of the Livestock Office was completed at the cost of over Rs 14.9 million and that of the Election Commission at over Rs 17.9 million. Similarly, the National Investigation Office building was rebuilt at the cost of over Rs 17.9 million. Likewise the reconstruction of the women's wing of the district prison is in the final stage. the estimated budget of this project is over Rs 42.1 million. Similarly, 50 percent work of the reconstruction of the District Survey Office which will take more than Rs 21.5 million has been completed. Likewise, the reconstruction of several other government buildings in the district has either been completed or the work is in the final stage.
According to the chief of the District Project Implementation Unit (buildings) of the reconstruction authority, Leela Khatiwada, the reconstruction of many government buildings which were damaged by the earthquake and some which required repairs prior to the earthquake has now been completed. According to Khatiwada, several government buildings which are being reconstructed are in the 'urgent category' while there are some that may have no use for some time.
Many of the buildings which have been reconstructed wear a deserted look due to the lack of staffers. Even though the government is reconstructing big buildings to house government offices, the reality is that many of the offices remain empty due to a lack of employees.
The officials at reconstruction authority in the district say the reconstruction of government buildings in the district is nearing its completion, many of the buildings have been completed while the remaining are in the final stages of completion. In the current year, the reconstruction of 28 health posts is set to be completed in the district.
