Rs 200,000 per household to rebuild destroyed houses

KATHMANDU, May 9: The government has announced financial support of Rs 200,000 per household to rebuild homes destroyed in the earthquake last month.

Earthquake victims from urban as well as rural areas will get the support but they must meet the criteria set by the government for the purpose.


The government has announced Rs 2.5 million loan per household at the 2 percent interest rate to rebuild destroyed homes in Kathmandu Valley. "Similarly, households outside the Valley can get Rs 1.5 million at the same interest rate," Prime Minister Sushil Koirala announced at the parliament meeting on Friday.

Also, those individuals or institutions who want to rebuild damaged buildings, factories or any other infrastructures can get soft loan based on the criteria set by the government under the Earthquake Reconstruction Loan scheme.

The government has also announced that it would issue National Reconstruction Bond to offer an opportunity to all Nepali citizens to help the country emerge out of this national crisis.

The prime minister announced that the government would reconstruct school buildings, health institutions, drinking water, irrigation and electricity supply, among others, in the next two years.

"For that the government will chalk out detailed programs in coordination with the National Planning Commission," the prime minister told the House meeting.

He also committed to revise the government's land-use policy and building codes, implement it strictly and to introduce a Safe Housing and Settlement Development Program.

The prime minister, however, said that it will take five years to rebuild historical, religious, archeological and cultural heritage sites. "For this, I call for support and suggestions from national and international experts," said Koirala.

He said the latest details of loss have shown that the 200 billion fund for national reconstruction earlier set up by the government was insufficient. "So, the fund will be increased once realistic details of losses are received," said the prime minister. The government has decided to contribute Rs 20 billion and has requested all national as well as international donors to contribute to the fund.

In the meantime, three-tier all-party mechanisms have been formed to monitor relief distribution and to take ahead reconstruction works. The all-party central mechanism is headed by the prime minister and chiefs of all the political parties represented in the CA are its members.

The second mechanism has been formed at the district and other local levels.

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