Nepal passes bill on creating quake reconstruction authority

Nearly eight months after two devastating earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 in Nepal, the parliament on Wednesday endorsed a bill authorising the setting up of a reconstruction authority.

Updated on: Dec 16, 2015, 18:50:15 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nearly eight months after two devastating earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 in Nepal, the parliament on Wednesday endorsed a bill authorising the setting up of a reconstruction authority.

File photo of a woman standing amid the debris caused by the Nepal earthquakes. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT Photo)

The bill came nearly six months after international donors, including India, pledged support worth $4.4 billion to Nepal to help rebuild damaged structures and to provide relief to victims.

A national reconstruction authority was formed by the previous Nepali Congress-led government through an ordinance, but it became ineffective as the government failed to pass a bill in parliament in time for setting up the body.

The authority will be responsible for preparing projects and allotting funds for reconstruction activity.

But differences among major political parties on who should head the body resulted in the bill getting delayed in parliament.

The delay in setting up the authority and disbursement of funds from donors has been decried by several international agencies, including the UN, as thousands of victims are still facing problems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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