Betrawati, Jan 1,, The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and the local levels of Nuwakot district have signed a 15-point memorandum of understanding, facilitating in and delegating authority for the reconstruction of structures damaged by the Gorkha Earthquake.
The MoU was signed during a two-day meeting of the District Coordination Committee (DCC) on the theme post-earthquake reconstruction. The meeting decided to expedite the reconstruction and complete the reconstruction works on the stipulated date.
NRA (Grants Management and Local Infrastructure Office) Nuwakot and the 12 local levels in the district have entered into the MoU here on Monday, NRA Executive Member Chandra Bahadur Shrestha said.
As per the MoU, the Authority will assign the required number of employees to the local levels while theadministrative activities including taking the attendance of the employees would be done through the latter. The facilities as well as the physical infrastructures of the employees assigned to the local levels for the reconstruction would be managed by the NRA itself.
Similarly, it is stated that the local level will write to the District Project Implementation Unit for the release of the financial grant once the senior engineer certifies the recommendation for the reconstructed houses made by the technicians assigned at the local level wards.
Likewise, it is stated in the MoU that the NRA shall provide the budget to the local levels for the construction of the projects, monasteries, temples and shrines, local archeological heritage sites, integrated settlements and monuments.
The local level shall prepare and implement the reconstruction action plan with the support and coordination of the Authority and shall also recommend to the Implementation Unit for action against the employees assigned for reconstruction at the local level if they carry out acts inconsistent with their office. The process for action shall be forwarded as per the local bodies’ recommendation.
Similarly, as per the MoU the Authority shall hand over to the local levels within 60 days the statistics related to the reconstruction of private houses and the details of the employees assigned at the local level. The local level shall give approval within 15 days the sketch of the houses constructed by the beneficiaries fulfilling the required building standard in keeping with the approved Inspection Guidelines.
The MoU also specifically mentions that the Authority shall address those beneficiaries who have registered complaint that they have not received the grant despite being genuine beneficiaries.
According to NRA executive member Shrestha, besides reaching the MoU, the meeting also made a 12-point decision, investing the authority to the local levels.
The meeting has decided to make the grant distribution more effective and to ease the distribution of loans of concessional interest rate for construction of private houses. Accordingly, the local levels shall prepare the action plan on reconstruction and submit the same to the Authority within January 29.
Likewise, it is stated that initiatives would be taken to have the names of fake beneficiaries or those beneficiaries who have taken the same grant twice removed from the list of beneficiaries. The families to be included in the category ‘vulnerable class’ shall be identified and provided facilities that the State has prioritized to them.
The meeting has also decided to draw the attention of the Department of Archaeology for the reconstruction of various historical and religious heritage sites as Belkotgadhi, Suryagadhi and Chimteshwar Mahadev in the district.
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