Flood Debris Removal Estimated to Cost NPR 95.42 Billion

Kathmandu. An estimated NPR 95.42 billion will be spent solely on removing stones, soil, sand, and building debris accumulated by the Bhote Koshi flood. The National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority have prepared a 'Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) Report' which estimates this expenditure for immediate and long-term rehabilitation. The report estimates that the amount will be spent under the 'cross-cutting' sector for removing debris from damaged buildings, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive rehabilitation. Debris from damaged buildings worth NPR 48.24 billion has accumulated due to the flood. Of this, approximately NPR 2 billion is soil debris. Removing this alone is estimated to cost over NPR 300 million. Similarly, for disaster risk reduction, an estimated NPR 947.5 million will be spent, comprising NPR 350 million immediately and NPR 944 million for the long term. This expenditure is for removing debris from waterways, river management and settlement protection, command area development, high riverbank erosion and landslide control, irrigation system restoration, and multi-hazard early warning system development. The report indicates that NPR 150 million is required for immediate inclusive rehabilitation for six months. This amount will be spent on rehabilitation and reconstruction, incorporating the needs of insecure and marginalized communities, women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups. The report states that 31.1 percent of the work of removing building debris, stones, and soil can be completed within six months. Furthermore, it is determined that only 0.4 percent of the work under disaster risk reduction management can be done within that period. Inclusive rehabilitation and reconstruction have the possibility of being completed within that time. For immediate recovery, NPR 67.42 billion will be spent in the infrastructure sector. This includes work related to hydropower and grid, domestic renewable energy, roads, bridges, communication, sanitation and drinking water, irrigation, and rivers in the energy sector. For the recovery of the social sector, an estimated NPR 8.29 billion will be required immediately. This will be spent on private houses, public buildings and facilities, education, health, and cultural sectors. An estimated NPR 5 billion is expected for the immediate recovery of the production sector. This amount will be spent on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, banking, economic activities, and livelihoods. Additionally, an estimated NPR 6.60 billion is allocated for immediate debris removal and disaster risk reduction for six months.