Government decides to spend amount of PCIDP in post-quake reconstruction

 The government has decided to call individuals, organisations as well as friendly countries and international organisations for providing it financial support for the post-earthquake reconstruction.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar today decided to urge for providing assistance to the Disaster Management Fund citing that far more resources would be required for the post-quake reconstruction than the preliminary estimates.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology and the government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said a decision has been made to divert Rs 8.25 billion apportioned for the Parliamentary Constituency Infrastructure Development Programme (PCIDP) for the Fiscal Year 2023/24 to the Disaster Management Fund for spending in the post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction for now.

She added that a decision has been made according to which the Ministry of Finance will make arrangements for providing a total Rs 10 billion for disaster management, adding Rs 1.75 billion also to the Fund.

Government spokesperson Sharma said the Cabinet meeting today also made a decision to carry out a study regarding the insurance of all buildings and structures including the private homes, arriving at the conclusion that Nepal is at high risk of earthquake, natural disasters and climate change. The Government Chief Secretary has been given the responsibility for conducting this study. The meeting decided that the study report will be presented after the Chief Secretary completes his task.

The Council of Ministers has decided to provide Rs 50,000 per family to the families whose houses have been completely damaged or even though partially damaged due to the earthquake, but are not fit for staying in, for the construction of temporary shelters. This amount would be provided in two installments.

This amount would be channeled from the Disaster Management Fund to the local levels concerned and the local levels would directly provide it in the bank account of the beneficiaries on self-declaration by the affected families and based on the recommendation of the related local level ward. The procedure for providing the grant amount would be as determined by the Disaster Management Executive Committee.

The government spokesperson shared that a decision has been made according to which the Ministry of Urban Development shall provide the technical support for the construction of temporary shelters through the technicians of the local levels concerned. Likewise, the Cabinet meeting decided to request the provincial government to provide the human resources as per the need coordinating with the federal and local level and to monitor the construction of temporary shelters and the mobilization of the technicians.

The Council of Ministers has also decided to form and mobilize an all-party mechanism at the local level and ward for forging the required understanding and for assisting and coordination in works including construction of temporary shelters, among others. Such mechanism would be formed under the coordination of the elected people's representative at the related local level and ward. The representatives of the political parties active at the related local level and wards would also be included in the mechanism.

The government decided that the Ministry of Finance shall immediately provide to the local administration and security bodies in the earthquake-affected areas the amount as fuel expenditure for immediate search, rescue and relief that these bodies spent from the budget made available to them.

Minister Sharma said the meeting extended hearty best wishes to all Nepalis on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat 1144 that commences from tomorrow, November 14 and decided to mention the Nepal Sambat year in the government documents in which the Bikram Sambat year is stated with the beginning of Nepal Sambat 1144.