The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) is preparing to expand reconstruction works in 11 districts from April 24 to coincide with the first anniversary of the Gorkha Earthquake. 

The reconstruction body is currently signing the aid agreement in Singati of Dolakha district. 

The authority has already instructed the Local Development Committee in the districts to make public names of households enlisted as beneficiaries. “After making public the name list of quake-affected households local bodies will finalise reconstruction action plan. And we want to begin aid agreement in each village development committee in 11 districts,” said NRA Spokesperson Ram Prasad Thapaliya. An NRA steering committee meeting is said to take a formal decision on the matter. “The process of housing reconstruction will be expanded soon as the committee makes the decision. It will pave the way for signing aid agreement and expedite the reconstruction,” said Thapaliya. 

More than 90 percent of detailed damaged assessment, a precondition for providing housing reconstruction grant to earthquake victims, has been completed in 11 districts. Assessments in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are expected to start next month. 

Meanwhile, the authority has asked NGOs to submit proposals on reconstruction within a month in accordance with NGO mobilisation guidelines. Reversing its earlier decision, the authority recently decided to engage NGOs in rebuilding houses by floating the separate guidelines that require a trilateral agreement to be signed between the authority, NGOs and quake-hit households in the presence of local body authorities.