The National Reconstruction Authority plans to complete distribution of the private housing aid to all the quake-affected families before the onset of monsoon provided that the supply of technical human resource, trained masons and construction materials is adequate.

Talking to the Post on Saturday, Govind Pokharel, the newly appointed chief executive officer of the NRA, said poor mobilisation of the engineers and workers and the absence of inter-ministerial coordination are seen as the major lapses delaying the reconstruction works.

“The sole purpose to set up the NRA as an independent body was to oversee overall reconstruction works through effective coordination and collaboration with government agencies, development partners and local communities,” said Pokharel. 

“My priority is to bridge the gap between the directions of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment and the reconstruction efforts undertaken in the last one year.”

Other key areas the NRA will focus on are addressing the grievances of the quake-affected families and other people from the affected districts, study and verification of settlements vulnerable to earthquake, and relocation of households.

Expressing concerns over the reports of funds misuse and duplication of rehabilitation efforts by various non-governmental organisations, Pokharel emphasised the need to develop a robust monitoring and evaluation system to ensure effective engagement and mobilisation of financial resources.

Nearly two years since the Gorkha Earthquake, thousands of households in 14 most-affected districts are living in temporary shelters owing to the delay in distribution of the housing aid. Of the total 626,036 households identified as eligible for the grants worth Rs300,000 in three instalments, 547,229 families have signed tripartite deals while 473,555 have collected the first instalment worth Rs50,000 so far.

The government on January 12 removed Sushil Gyewali as the NRA chief, charging him with under-performance. 

The government mainly had four issues with Gyewali—failure to coordinate with government agencies for effective reconstruction, inability to mobilise staff efficiently, lack of implementation of the instructions given by the NRA directive committee, and the delay in issuing housing grants to the homeless families.