the ruling and opposition parties differ on the grant amount to be provided to earthquake victims.

The UCPN (Maoist) warns of tabling a separate resolution in Parliament if the ruling parties do not increase the sum to be given to affected households.

Contrary to the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML’s proposal to provide Rs 300,000 for each house destroyed, the Maoist party has proposed at least Rs 500,000.

“Victims cannot survive under tents. Arrangements should be made for sheltering them. It costs a minimum of Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million to construct a temporary shelter,” said Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shreshta.

The three parties were supposed to endorse the common programme on Thursday and table it as a resolution in Parliament.

Top leaders of the major parties had discussed the agenda at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s residence.

In informal meetings, the ruling parties have proposed “organised settlement” by bringing homeless people together. For those who do not want to stay there, Rs 300,000 would be provided in grant. A soft loan of up to Rs 1 million could be provided for those who want to spend more than the grant to build new residences.

“Things have not yet resolved but we are close to a deal. I hope we will arrive at a solution by Friday,” said UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali.  

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has expressed his reservations saying

that the government is not in a position to provide huge resources as grant.

Gyawali, however, claimed that all the parties could agree to Rs 300,000 as grant to each homeless and Rs 1 million in soft loan.

Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said there is no disagreement in his party on the relief amount.

The major parties are meeting on Friday morning to finalise the proposal. Then other parties would be consulted about it.

“The agreed rehabilitation package will be tabled in Parliament as a reconstruction resolution,” said Khadka.

According to preliminary data, 200,552 private houses have been destroyed in 14 worst-hit districts while 186,285 others were partially damaged.