Centralise house reconstruction activities: NRB

KATHMANDU:

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has called on the government to centralise activities related to reconstruction of houses destroyed by the devastating earthquake so that organised settlements can be developed in the coming days.

NRB had laid the suggestion in the capacity of the financial advisor to the government during various rounds of meetings with the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and officials of the National Planning Commission.

Many like those at NRB have seen the 7.6-Richter earthquake of April 25 as an opportunity to develop organised settlements, especially in rural areas, where houses are scattered in a wide area.

Because of the presence of dispersed settlements, the government has currently been finding it difficult to deliver basic public services, like education, health, drinking water, road and electricity, in many places in rural areas.

It is not that the government cannot deliver basic public utilities and amenities to every far-flung area, where only a few families live.

But it is considered prudent to channel money towards places with higher population density rather than to virtually uninhabited areas, as it would cost the government almost the same amount to build such infrastructure in both types of environment.

“Considering this, the government must come up with an umbrella policy on reconstruction of houses destroyed by the quake, so that donors and others who have expressed interest to build new houses in quake-hit zones do not start construction works in a haphazard manner,” a reliable source said.

In this regard, the government must instruct donors and volunteers to build new settlements comprising at least 50 houses, the source added. These houses should be of similar type and quality. And the settlements should have all basic utilities and amenities, and should be located at a distance of at least one kilometre from main roads or highways.

“If the government can convince people affected by the quake to move to such settlements, a lot of money can be saved in the coming days,” the source said, adding, “It would be better if the government makes it mandatory for developers of such settlements to employ locals who have been affected by the quake.”

Source: THT