Government Estimates NPR 723 Billion for Flood Reconstruction

Kathmandu. The government has estimated that NPR 723 billion 315.2 million will be required for the reconstruction after the devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa on Bhadra 10. According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report prepared by a joint technical team including the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, an estimated NPR 473 billion 571.9 million will be needed for the reconstruction of the most affected infrastructure sector alone. This amount is said to be 75 percent of the total disaster reconstruction needs. Among the infrastructure sectors, energy and roads have suffered extensive damage. 13 hydropower projects with a capacity of 759 megawatts and 5 solar plants with a capacity of 24 megawatts have been affected. Due to this, NPR 390 billion 623.04 million will be required for the reconstruction of the energy and grid system alone. Similarly, 69 kilometers of road sections have been damaged, and 33 motorable bridges have been washed away. 4 bridges have been partially damaged. Also, 53 out of 64 suspension bridges in the flood-affected areas have been damaged. It is estimated that NPR 73 billion 342.96 million will be spent for the overall transportation infrastructure reconstruction of the affected area. The flood has also caused significant physical and economic impact on the social and production sectors. 7,570 private houses in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan affected by the flood have been damaged. Besides this, 48 public buildings, 18 schools, 7 health institutions, and 30 cultural heritage sites have been damaged. NPR 103 billion 549.9 million budget will be required for this sector. Similarly, it is estimated that NPR 50 billion 774.9 million will be required for the reconstruction of the production sector, which includes trade, business, banks, and agriculture. Under the production sector, 1,806 hectares of agricultural crops, 17 bank branches, and 4,800 business establishments have been affected. Among the 15 local levels affected in 5 districts, only 3,026 houses have been damaged in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot. The report has indicated that NPR 94 billion 753.1 million will be required for disaster risk reduction and river management, and NPR 515.4 million for the management of silt and debris. The report has divided the reconstruction into two phases. Accordingly, NPR 8 billion 735 million is estimated to be spent for immediate relief and short-term reconstruction within the next 6 months, and NPR 714 billion 580.2 million for long-term reconstruction.