Kathmandu, 11 September (H.S.):

An estimated Rs 723.3152 billion is required for reconstruction and restoration following the devastating flood that entered the Bhotekoshi River from Tibet on August 26 last month. According to the government’s Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report, Rs 7 kharab 23 arba 31 crore 52 lakh will be required to reconstruct the physical infrastructure damaged by the Bhotekoshi flood.

The devastating flood, which has claimed 1,377 lives so far, caused widespread destruction in several areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. Homes, farmland, businesses, roads, bridges, dry ports, cargo containers and vehicles that had reached the border checkpoints were swept away in the flood. A joint technical team comprising officials from various bodies, including the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, prepared the preliminary assessment. According to the report, Rs 4 kharab 3 arba 57 crore 19 lakh will be required for the recovery of the infrastructure sector, which accounts for around 75 percent of the total recovery requirement.

Energy sector suffers the most damage: The flood caused extensive damage to energy and road infrastructure. Thirteen hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 759 MW and five solar plants with a combined capacity of 24 MW were affected. The restoration of the energy and grid system alone is estimated to require Rs 3 kharab 90 arba 62 crore 30 lakh 40 thousand.

Similarly, 69 kilometres of roads were damaged. Thirty-three motorable bridges were washed away, while four bridges sustained partial damage. Of the 64 suspension bridges in the flood-affected areas, 53 were damaged. A total of Rs 73 arba 34 crore 29 lakh 60 thousand will be required to restore the entire transport infrastructure.

7,570 private houses damaged: The floods also caused extensive damage to the social and productive sectors. A total of 7,570 private houses were damaged in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan. In addition, 48 government buildings, 18 schools, seven health institutions and 30 cultural heritage sites were affected. An estimated Rs 1 kharab 3 arba 54 crore 99 lakh will be required for the reconstruction and restoration of these sectors.

For the recovery of the productive sector, including trade, business, banking and agriculture, an estimated Rs 50 arba 77 crore 49 lakh will be required. The disaster affected 1,806 hectares of agricultural crops, 17 bank branches and 4,800 business establishments in this sector.

Of the 15 affected local bodies in the five districts, 3,026 houses alone were damaged in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot. The report has estimated that Rs 94 arba 75 crore 31 lakh will be required for disaster risk reduction and river management, while Rs 51 crore 54 lakh will be needed for sludge and debris management.

Reconstruction to be carried out in two phases: According to the report, the reconstruction process has been divided into two phases. An estimated Rs 8 arba 73 crore 50 lakh will be spent on immediate relief and short-term reconstruction over the next six months. Meanwhile, Rs 7 kharab 14 arba 58 crore 2 lakh will be required for long-term reconstruction.

Sushil Kumar Shrestha, senior divisional engineer at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and a member of the committee, said data and details had been collected from the concerned ministries, departments and agencies and analysed. Based on this, a preliminary report on the damage and resources required for reconstruction has been prepared.

PDNA process begins, report expected within three months: The government has also initiated the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process for reconstruction and restoration following the disaster. The National Planning Commission has moved forward with the process.

According to Commission spokesperson Harisharan Pudasaini, the PDNA report could be prepared in around three months. At present, the Commission is preparing the questionnaire and making arrangements for a detailed field study. He said the National Disaster Authority had completed the initial Rapid Damage and Loss Assessment and prepared its report. A detailed report will now be prepared on the basis of that assessment.

How much funding is required for each sector?

* Energy and grid system: Rs 3 kharab 90 arba 62 crore 30 lakh 40 thousand.

* Transport infrastructure: Rs 73 arba 34 crore 29 lakh 60 thousand.

* Private houses, public buildings, schools, health institutions and cultural heritage: Rs 1 kharab 3 arba 54 crore 99 lakh.

* Productive sector, including trade, business, banking and agriculture: Rs 50 arba 77 crore 49 lakh.

* Disaster risk reduction and river management: Rs 94 arba 75 crore 31 lakh.

* Sludge and debris management: Rs 51 crore 54 lakh.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar