Parties expected to come clean and united at least during times of National Crisis
Kathmandu, June 27: The April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks took the
lives of 8,831 Nepali people while 22,309 were injured. Among the injured, many have suffered deep
injuries with around 300 requiring life-long care as they could not be
completely cured even after long treatment.
Likewise,
government authorities have so far confirmed that almost 600,000 houses were
completely damaged while another 300,000 houses suffered partial and minor
damages in the quake. Nearly 36,107
classrooms have been de
A study of losses
caused by the devastating 'Gorkha' quake shows that physical infrastructures
worth Rs 512 billion were damaged by the quake and over Rs 666 billion was
needed for reconstruction, rehabilitation and new construction. The recently
held international conference on Nepal's reconstruction was more about human
values of friendship and mutual support, than about asking and giving
donations. Still, our neighbours and well-wisher countries pledged to provide
over Rs 400 billion in assistance.
The government
collected the assistance by presenting the Post Disaster Needs Assessment
(PDNA) report prepared by the National Planning Commission for the post-quake
reconstruction, rehabilitation and rebuilding in the International conference,
where it succeeded to win the confidence of the donor agencies. However, the
government has to work more seriously while utilizing the assistance so as to
win their continuous belief and trust towards Nepal.
The PDNA report
calculates over Rs 399 billion necessary for the reconstruction and
rehabilitation mainly in the sector of cultural heritage, education, health and
human settlement while estimating the need of another Rs 117 billion for the
reconstruction of agro, industrial, irrigation and tourism sectors. Many
structures in other sectors like hydro-power, media, community infrastructures,
transport and drinking water and sanitation are also needed to be
reconstructed.
The amount
received from the June 25 donors conference is said to be enough to reconstruct
the damaged structures if properly utilized. As a result, the government,
political parties, civil society, intellectuals and the citizens should
co-ordinate to rightly utilize the funds. The government should take the lead
proper decisions and settling the problems without any delay.
In the meantime,
life in the quake-affected districts is yet to return to normalcy as thousands
lost their near and dear ones, with their shelters too brought to the ground.
The citizens forced to live in tents and temporary structures are looking
forward to the State to come to their rescue soon in rebuilding their lives and
returning back to normal life, despite the irreparable losses that they
incurred in the devastating earthquake.The government declared the quake
affected 14 districts as crisis-hit-zone right after the devastating quake
rattled the nation including three districts in the Kathmandu Valley. The
government has also declared the valley as a crisis-hit-zone for one year last
week. But such declaration alone would do nothing if visionary programmes were
not introduced and implemented for the rehabilitation of the people displaced
by the quake, along with reconstruction of the ravaged structures.
Meanwhile, the
citizens are hopeful that political parties and the government would work
together to free them from the sufferings caused by the quake, now that the
need of finance has been almost been addressed. The political parties that have
a more important role in this regard to lobby for proper and durable
rehabilitation programmes while also monitor its enforcement.
As the
16-point-agreement signed by the major political parties has brought some hope
among the people that the political parties are moving ahead with unity, they
wish for a similar and more unified political resolve for the revival of the
lives of the people affected by the quake as well as the national economy. As
this desperate time, the nation needs unity among the political parties for
promulgating a new constitution and also rebuilding the country for the better.
In this regard,
the major parties including those in the government have a responsible role to
play to bring all the parties and stakeholders on board to own the new
constitution as well as the new rebuilding initiative. They should realize the
need for unity to work together to face both the challenges of a post-disaster
situation and to grab the opportunity to build a New Nepal that they have been
preaching for a long time. The days ahead certainly are testing times for the
parties to come clean in their resolve of building a new and more resilient
Nepal.