The plan is to upgrade earthen roads to graveled roads and blacktop the graveled roads, according to officials. A specialized agency, Central Project Implementation Unit, has been formed at the center for effective implementation of the project. Similarly, District Project Implementation Unit led by local development officer of concerned districts will implement the project at the local level. The project, which is expected to cost US$ 49.5 million, is funded by the Asian Development Bank.Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson of Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD), said this is the first reconstruction project initiated after the earthquake. Preparation for other projects, like the one providing assistance for rebuilding of houses damaged by the earthquake, is going on, according to Bhattarai. "National Planning Commission (NPC) is also devising reconstruction plans," he added.
The task of planning reconstruction programs have has been handed over to NPC because of the delay in formation of National Authority for Reconstruction.
The government has so far signed agreement with development partners for grants assistance to build only 20 percent of around 500,000 households damaged by the earthquake. The process to sign agreement for grant assistance for the purpose is going on, officials say.
However, delay in preparatory works, like enumerating damage data of each and every household after Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), have affected the process of rebuilding houses.
The delay means quake-hit families will have mere makeshift tents to brave the winter. The government has not been able to conduct household survey in quake-hit districts even six months after the earthquake. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) started pilot project for data collection only recently.
"The data collected through household survey will provide the most reliable information about the damage caused by the earthquake. It will also help us to know about socio-economic status of the affected households," Bhattarai said.
CBS will conduct first phase of 'Nepal Earthquake Housing Reconstruction Survey', which will collect data by reaching each quake-hit household, from December 15 to January 15. The survey covers Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha districts in the first phase. "Other affected districts will be covered in the second phase," Rudra Suwal, deputy director general of CBS, told Republica.
The World Bank (WB) has announced assistance to build 55,000 houses of poor people in rural areas. Similarly, other development partners have also showed interest to join the program to cover more houses.
Quake-hit household survey to be paperless
Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) plans to use tablet PCs for Nepal Earthquake Housing Reconstruction Survey, making it the first paperless survey in Nepali history, according to officials.
Enumerators will use 1500 tablet PCs. All the data entry will be made in real time by using Internet service, CBS officials say.
Rudra Suwal, deputy director general of CBS, told Republica that this is the first time that CBS is starting paperless survey. "It will eliminate the tedious task of data entry," Suwal said, adding. "This will also make data collection more efficient."
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is providing technical support to the survey. It will also provide tablet PCs for the purpose.
The survey provides detailed information about the affected households. The government will devise reconstruction and rehabilitation plan based on data collected during the survey.
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