Over Rs 100 billion estimated for post-disaster reconstruction process: NDRRMA

Kathmandu, Jan 13: The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) has estimated that over Rs 100 billion could be required to rebuild disaster-damaged infrastructures nationwide.

The NDRRMA presented a projection of around Rs 101 billion and 120 million at the 16th meeting of the National Disaster Council convened last Sunday. The meeting also approved a comprehensive plan for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. With the plan’s approval, the process to sign an agreement with the beneficiaries for the reconstruction process will begin on January 14, informed Dr. Bhisma Kumar Bhusal, Joint Secretary at the NDRRMA.

According to the NDRRMA, altogether 120,732 infrastructures, including 381 roads and transportation structures, were damaged in natural disasters across the country, including this year’s monsoon-induced disasters. The agency responsible for operating and managing activities effectively related to disaster management has projected that it could cost over Rs 28 billion to rebuild disaster-damaged roads and transportation sector infrastructures.

Likewise, 176 public offices and buildings sustained damages in the disasters for which over Rs 2 billion is estimated for rebuilding. The reconstruction costs Rs 2,119 billion for the damaged infrastructures in electricity. Likewise, Rs 17 billion has been estimated for the reconstruction of alternative and irrigation centers. Similarly, over Rs 40 billion is estimated for the reconstruction of 115,558 personal residences.

As many as 1,562 disaster-damaged educational institutions will require over Rs 5 billion to rebuild. Over Rs 700 million is estimated for reconstructing 90 health-sector infrastructures damaged in the disaster, while 813 projects related to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene that were damaged in the disaster would cost over Rs 6 billion for reconstruction.

Also, 33 archaeological heritages sustaining damages in the disaster could require over Rs 6 billion for retrofitting and reconstruction. The NDRRMA shared that the monsoon-induced disasters alone caused damages worth over Rs 46 billion to infrastructures in 2024. The government aims to arrange the necessary budget within three years and complete the reconstruction of these infrastructures during the same period.

Sunday’s meeting urged the relevant ministries, provincial authorities, and local governments to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to mobilize resources necessary for implementing the activities outlined in the comprehensive plan. Joint Secretary Bhusal emphasized effective coordination among three-tier governments, considering the challenges in managing costs required for the reconstruction process.

According to him, all three levels of government have outlined a plan for arranging costs for reconstruction. The Ministry of Finance will seek financial assistance from donor agencies for reconstruction if costs cannot be managed internally, he said.

The recent series of earthquakes in the western part of the country destroyed 95,787 personal residences, while the monsoon-induced disasters led to the destruction of 19,771 personal homes, Bhusal informed. Dr. Dijan Bhatarai, spokesperson at the NDRRMA, shared that a study has been conducted on reconstruction and rehabilitation at Thame village in the Solukhumbhu district in the wake of the massive flood this monsoon. —RSS