The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has said that it will provide grant meant for post-earthquake reconstruction works to quake-affected households only after getting “exact details” on damages from the ground.

The central body responsible for post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation made such remarks amid concerns from donors over “possible misuse of funds” in the context of growing numbers of quake-affected households.

The authority, however, has already started reviewing concerned laws, including grant manual.

The NRA is currently finalising vision action plan and making changes to existing laws, including those concerning land acquisition, environment impact assessment, resettlement and procurement before announcing its blue print on reconstruction.

The NRA got the final shape on Tuesday with the appointment of members in all three bodies under it—National Advisory Board, Central Directive Committee and Executive Committee. “We are working with the target of formally beginning the reconstruction works on January 16,” newly appointed NRA chief executive Sushil Gyawali told the Post. “Quake-affected people will receive grant for rebuilding houses by April 24.”

The donors have also put forth collection of fresh details as condition of grant, said Gyawali. “And we have mobilised engineers for fresh evaluation in quake affected districts,” he said.

Unconvinced with the preliminary details, the government had decided to recollect details of quake-affected households and damaged infrastructure. The number of households rose dramatically as compared to the 2011 Census while the government distributed Rs 15,000 as immediate cash relief.

Still, the numbers of quake-affected households continues to surge, said government officials privy in distributing relief.

The number of quake-affected households, which was assumed to be 600,000, has now reached at 700,000, said Joint-secretary at the Home Ministry Rameshwor Dangal, who also heads Disaster Management Department in the ministry.

The ministry officials suspect the numbers of quake-affected households could rise in anticipation of more lucrative relief schemes from the government. In the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake, the government had announced to provide Rs 200,000 in addition to immediate cash relief and subsidised bank loans to each household rendered homeless.

The Central Bureau of Statistics mobilised a team of 138 fresh engineers in Dolakha this week to collect the actual data of households affected by the earthquake. More teams of technical surveyors are being deployed in the remaining districts.