'Financial resources essential to speed up reconstruction in quake-hit area'

Kathmandu, Jan 14: The post-quake relief distribution and reconstruction works in Jajarkot district have been taken forward effectively, said National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.     

Construction of temporary shelters and reconstruction of quake-damaged houses in Jakarkot would be proceeded with policy and structural reforms, said the Authority in a press meet here Sunday.     

It may be noted that a 6.4 magnitude of earthquake had jolted Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim earlier on November 3, which took heavy toll human and physical properties.     

Authority's CEO Anil Pokharel, however, shared that reconstruction operation could not pick a pace due to legal glitches along with lack of financial resources. "The biggest problems facing the post-quake reconstruction operation is lack of financial resources," Pokharel said.     

He added, "The current process to gather resources on time is quite complicated. To give impetus to it, amendment in the regulations in line with the Act is needed." According to him, the draft for amendment on the regulations has been prepared and environment for releasing the budget for post-quake reconstruction would be enabled accordingly.     

Informing that relief distribution operation was carried out through one-door policy in coordination among the three-tier government, he assured that the post-quake relief distribution and reconstruction would be made result-oriented in collaboration of three-tiers government, non-governmental agencies and donor agencies.     

In view of the prospect of quake's risks in future, he opined that the government should encourage citizens to build quake-resilient houses. (RSS)