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Seven years after the earthquake: How has Nepal rebuilt?

Reconstructing affected homes in Nepal is an integral part of the ongoing earthquake rehabilitation process.


Nepalnews
2022 Apr 10, 6:03, Kathmandu
Hindu Temple / Pixabay

On 25 April 2015, Nepal was struck with a devastating earthquake of 7.6 magnitude with its epicenter in Barpak, Gorkha. The same day the government of Nepal declared an emergency in Nepal, requesting for international support. The loss of thousands of lives and a great amount of infrastructure damage caused by the earthquake affected millions of people living in Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the country's western and central development regions including Kathmandu Valley were affected the most by the earthquake. While the most loss of lives and property occurred in the districts of Gorkha, Lamjung, Sindhupalchowk, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dolakha and Kathmandu valley in the Central Region.

The collapse of several villages, public and historic buildings impacted the livelihoods of millions of people in Nepal.

According to the immediate assessment report conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 416359 houses were damaged (fully damaged – 202157, partially damaged-214202). 200546 private houses were completely damaged and 20287 private houses were partially damaged.

A significant amount of the population were displaced from their homes, and lived in Tents/Tarpaulins. 229298 tents were provided by the neighboring country India alone and 340221 tents were provided by China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea.

Relief assistance and aid were provided by various international organizations. Alongside the government, various organizations are currently working on reconstruction projects in Nepal.

reconstruction work /flickr
reconstruction work /flickr

‘Steadfast Nepal’ has actively engaged in sustainable reconstruction works in Nepal, shortly after the 2015 earthquake hit Nepal. It has given jobs to engineers and architects from Nepal providing them an opportunity to work on building safer, earthquake resilient homes for the earthquake victims of Nepal.

On the challenges faced by Steadfast Nepal in executing their construction projects in Nepal, the country office manager, Diana Silwal says, “ The demand to rebuild the houses was more than the actual damage done by the earthquake. Besides, obtaining government approval for the reconstruction work to begin was a very lengthy process.”

“ Our housing projects were based on districts heavily affected by the earthquake such as: Kavre, Dhading, Gorkha, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, and Kathmandu.” she adds.


From January 2022, the authority of reconstruction in Nepal has been passed on to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) from the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA). NDRMA is now responsible for facilitation of reconstruction and rehabilitation works in Nepal and monitoring the ongoing Housing Reconstruction Project (EHRP) financed by the World Bank.

A per the government’s decision, the remaining construction works of Dharahara, Singh Durbar, Shanti Batika section of Ranipokhari, Harihar Bhawan and Ranoddwip Durbar within the Narayanhiti Palace Museum will be carried out by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) under the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).

Previously, the National Reconstruction Authority has provided financial aid to a number of beneficiaries to build homes abiding by the guidelines provided by the government for earthquake resilient housing construction.

A reconstruction grant of Rs. 300,000 was provided to each beneficiary in a total of three instalments through the banking process. Rs. 100,000 was provided to the beneficiaries who are willing to strengthen their homes to make them earthquake resilient.

However, 634,000 complaints were filed by citizens who wanted to become one of the beneficiaries of the government’s financial aid. The hearings of the complaints registered by the citizens have been executed.

The citizens who were not granted relief after the initial hearings have a chance to appeal again to the government, which is currently in place.


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Kathmandu nepal Earthquake 2015 infrastructure development Aid reconstruction work
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