Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 07 May 2015 16:07

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/in ... media.html

As the aircraft revs up for a take-off from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport to take me back home to India, I take with me memories of meeting the kindest, purest and humblest people I have come across.

....
Everywhere we went and worked, we were greeted with open arms and smiles. Contrary to the rants of many who only require a keypad and 140 characters to run down intense efforts, the affected people did not forget to tell us how grateful they were that we came to hear them when their own news organisations could not.

Our visits to places were followed by authorities coming there with help. This, for me, remains the biggest satisfaction.

...
However, I must tell you that not all in Nepal were pleased with us. A clampdown was announced. Suddenly the Indian press corps was persona non grata. The Indian and the Nepali officials went into a huddle to break the deadlock, which they did subsequently.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/in ... z3ZS2pQfoP
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A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 07 May 2015 16:19

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index ... way-149311

Founded in 650 AD, the district’s oldest town has seen numerous earthquakes and this one was among the more severe ones. Its historic fort crumbled and so had the old structures, necessitating the creation of Naya Anjar. Kutch and vast areas of Gujarat suffered another earthquake in 2001. It was on the Republic Day and the revelling, holidaying Indians took a while to realise the catastrophe. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed 20,000 people and toppled around 3,39,000 homes.

When it happened, Narendra Modi had been Gujarat’s Chief Minister for barely three-and-half-a-months. And a month later came sectarian violence, post Godhra. He made the calamity and Kutch his first test case for governance as well as political work. The arid district that traditionally sent people out for employment and enterprise has since witnessed rapid development. With significant development of its ports, it has become a powerhouse of commerce and industry. But thanks to the riots, it has also polarised the society on Hindu-Muslim lines. Bhuj, the district capital, is more divided than before, according to Edward Simpson, an anthrpologist who has written “The Political Biography of an Earthquake.”

Hence, the adulatory “Breaking News” talk about Modi using his “Kutch experience” to supervise India’s effort to “wipe the tears” of the people of Nepal is born out of ignorance. It is best left here, since the objective of Modi and his government in Nepal is not in any doubt. But there, indeed, is a “Kutch model” of development that is worth emulating in Nepal. Pioneer of India’s “green revolution” Dr M S Swaminathan, has recommended “habitation-cum-rehabilitation programme” of Kutch that involves putting up low-cost greenhouse-like structures which can immediately provide shelter to the homeless and later can be used to undertake high-value seed production.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 07 May 2015 16:24

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index ... ram-149411

The devastating earthquake has failed to shake the faith in God of some Nepal seers, who are determined to stay on despite deep and ominous cracks in their ashram here.

Showing their complete faith in "God's will", the dozen-odd aged saints have refused to move out of the Harihar Ashram here even though the building that houses them has developed cracks in its foundations and walls following the April 25 temblor. Devghat is about 250 km from capital Kathmandu.

The authorities, and even their own structural engineers, have advised them about the perils of living in such buildings. But, the seers say, they are "wedded to life and death in this very place".

"We relinquished the worldly life many decades back. Fear of death or harm does not shake us anymore," a 95-year-old seer who refused to give his name told IANS.

Inshwaranand Saraswati, a middle-aged woman in saffron clothes, rued that the building has become an unsafe place for the youngsters and students who study nearby.

"A lot of people used to come here early for puja and other Sanatan dharm-karm, but now the footfall is less...we can understand. Unlike us, everyone is afraid of death and harm to life," she said while showing this IANS correspondent the deep cracks the 'bhojan kaksh' (Mess) has developed.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 May 2015 22:03

Today is 13th day after eqk. Please say a prayer for the dead in the eqk.
Thanks',

ramana

Melwyn · Post by **Melwyn** » 07 May 2015 22:19

Meanwhile Jitu Rai wins the sportsperson of the year award.

Jitu Rai wins 'Sportsperson of the Year' Award

I am a bit surprised that he participates from India when he was born and raised in Nepal.
Seems like he got his passport made in India after joining the Indian Army.

Is there a rule regarding the country you represent in sports competition?

Melwyn · Post by **Melwyn** » 08 May 2015 18:41

Nepalis are pissed off with their politicians
Put up poster of Dogs and Politicians not allowed.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 09 May 2015 09:04

Earthquake victims queue up for food at Tudikhel, Kathmandu on Friday. The food is provided since Tuesday by Indian organisation ‘Khalsa Aid’ - See more at: http://www.ekantipur.com/photo-gallery/ ... tJK91.dpuf

Meanwhile a long haul to rebuilding

Property rebuilding within two years, PM pledges in Parliament

KATHMANDU, MAY 09 - The government on Friday said that all the private and public properties destroyed by the devastating earthquake would be reconstructed within two years.

Addressing the Legislature-Parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said a National Reconstruction Fund of Rs200 billion would be mobilised to reconstruct the structures.

Presenting the reconstruction programme endorsed by the Cabinet, Koirala said damaged facilities and services such as schools and colleges, health centres, water supply, electricity and government offices would be restored within two years while religious, archaeological and cultural sites would be reconstructed in five years.

Koirala also proposed a three-layer all-party monitoring committee to make relief and rehabilitation works “fair and non-discriminatory”. There will be a central monitoring committee comprising leaders of the parties represented in Parliament at the centre, and districts and local governance units. The third will be an all-party monitoring committee in Parliament.

PM Koirala called on all Nepalis, neighbouring countries and migrant workers to lend helping hands to the government in the reconstruction effort. “No Nepali will be left homeless and let fall victim to malnutrition,” he said.

“Let’s unite to confront the national disaster, seizing this opportunity for transformation,” he said, calling for help from all the parties including the opposition. Stressing the need for moving ahead in partnership, Koirala also reiterated the need to complete the constitution writing project.

Koirala announced relief packages for the victims. The government has decided to provide up to Rs200,000 to a family that lost its home in the quake in addition to waiver of bank loan up to Rs 50,000. The government would also provide immediate grant of Rs25,000 for those who want to renovate their damaged houses.

Quake victims will be given bank loans at two percent to rebuild or repair their damaged houses. Homeowners in Kathmandu Valley, whose houses have been damaged, will get up to Rs2.5 million in loan while those outside the Valley will receive up to Rs1.5 million.

Industries and business complexes will get soft loans after assessing the damage. According to the Home Ministry, a total of 289,995 private and public houses have been destroyed while 251,872 have been partially damaged.

According to the PM, each victimised family will get an identity card and will also be prioritised in government jobs. Farmers in the 14 worst-hit districts will be given free seeds and fertiliser under the relief package. This applies also to the people in Banke, Dang, Surkhet and Bardia who faced severe floods and landslides last year along with the flu-affected Jajarkot.

“Maintenance of damaged roads is ongoing and caution has been adopted to avert a possible disease outbreak post disaster,” added Koirala.

The PM said that foreign trips of ministers and high-ranking officials would be controlled except for emergency situations. He promised to reopen schools and hospitals at the earliest. Assuring good-governance in all sectors, the PM said a new land use plan will be devised to strictly implement the Building Code.

Sharing that an international conference of donor agencies would be organised to seek further financial assistance, Koirala also presented an action plan to construct an earthquake memorial.

The budget for the next fiscal year would focus on relief to victims of natural disasters.

Also addressing the House, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the government should take the command and control of all relief distribution and reconstruction works. He asked the government to take all the parties into confidence for relief distribution and reconstruction. “The government should form an authority representing all the parties to carry out reconstruction,” he said

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 09 May 2015 21:48

Sitanshu Kar ‏@SpokespersonMoD 15m15 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake As #IAF crew & #NepalArmy troops take off after giving relief goods, #Tipling residents show up.
14 retweets 10 favorites

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 09 May 2015 21:56

Sitanshu Kar ‏@SpokespersonMoD 2h2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake A woman takes eyes off her work to watch the landing of an Army Aviation ALH Dhruv at Manbu, Gorkha.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake 1st landing of #IAF's MI-17 V5 @ #Semjong, near #Dhading. #NepalArmy troops ensure quick disbursal.

New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake 1st landing of #IAF's heptr at #Jharlang, #Dhading district with relief supplies.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 46m 46 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Relief supplies by #IAF's MI-17 V5 at #Tipling in #Dhading district.

Supplies by IAF. Certainly much more than measly 300kgs that V22 Osprey did earlier. The expressions on Villagers are priceless. Hats off to IAF and IA to land anywhere in Nepal and deliver supplies in such a difficult terrain which Amirkhan could not manage.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 09 May 2015 22:01

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 8m 8 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Army Aviation's ALH Dhruv reached #Kashigaon in Gorkha district today with relief supplies.

The images posted by Spokesperson of MOD Sri Sithanshu Kar indicates that Indian commitment is to continue its relief operations and help Nepal in rebuilding it later. Nowhere it seems that it is isolated from NA. They are working in tandem and Villagers seems happy to see their arrival. China must be worried lot and may pledge funds and do some infra projects.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 09 May 2015 22:15

Cricket update ‏@CrickeUpdate 25m25 minutes ago

landslide on Araniko highway after earthquake
how can I smile
when my country is crying
#NepalEarthquake

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 10 May 2015 06:38

Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · May 8

On #OperationMaitri: a full spectrum view.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 10 May 2015 19:38

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu- ... 76078.html

The Tarai, the country’s bread basket, is almost intact. The eastern and western hills also did not face much damage. There has been tremendous international support in the wake of the disaster. And many of our local youths are fanning out to the countryside, working to provide relief to the less fortunate.

As small tremors keep rocking us, I am beginning to understand how fragile our lives really are. And how precious the lives of those around us.

Later, we ran up to the open space in front of the Maoist party headquarters, at Perisdanda

But we have also lost our precious heritage sites, which may cost years and billions of rupees to rebuild. Our tourist season seems to have been derailed.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 10 May 2015 21:08

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 8m 8 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake #IAF 's MI-17 V5 reached out to #Sourpani, #Barpak today with relief material.

10 retweets 6 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 15m 15 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Mother & child being evacuated from #Sourpani, #Barpak 2 #Pokhara by an #IAF MI-17 V5 heptr 2day.

13 retweets 16 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi

The child looking at her mother. Priceless Picture on Mother's day.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 26m 26 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Children went to school in #Gorkha for the first time today after the earthquake.

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 12 May 2015 12:15

Another major earthquake hits Nepal.
BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32701385

A major earthquake has struck western Nepal, two weeks after a devastating quake killed more than 7,000 people.
The latest earthquake hit near the town of Namche Bazar, near Mount Everest.
The US Geological Survey said it had a magnitude of 7.4. An earthquake on April 26, centred in east Nepal, had a magnitude of 7.8.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 12 May 2015 13:22

^^ China says last one was 8.1. This is a 7.4 trembler, but further north east. The tibetans would have had a worse ride, as would the nepali north/east.

7.4 is not a light shake. Now you wont be able to tell which rescje teams are coming and which are going. Who the bakistani, chinese, or maoists are complaining about. Or how many died, and when.

Blame it all on Indian aid. Those C17s, they were too heavy. There is a cause for stomach pain in the folk medicine of rural rajasthan called a "dharan digna", literally "placement moved (to uncomfortable location causing pain)". Nothing a bit of rabble rousing wont solve. Who has them effigies? We better start with protesting again.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 13 May 2015 05:01

^up. bekauje earthquakes -- the sequel.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 13 May 2015 05:28

You kan not even extract this impakted bakistan manually:

MuhammadAnjumKiani ‏@AnjumKiani 5h5 hours ago

MuhammadAnjumKiani retweeted The New York Times

.@mehreenzahra .@TahaSSiddiqui was it 'Tehreek e Taliban Nepal'? Go for it...it will get you some more attention.

MuhammadAnjumKiani added,
The New York Times @nytimes
A U.S. Marine helicopter assigned to the relief efforts in the aftermath of the latest earthquake in Nepal is missing http://nyti.ms/1IwogBO
21 retweets 31 favorites
31

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 06:25

http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebri ... its-nepal/

More people were killed and more houses collapsed when a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Nepal at around 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The death toll from Tuesday’s earthquake has reached 59 so far and is expected to rise further.

Ramechhap and Dolakha are among the worst hit districts. Casualties and damages have been reported from Sindhupalchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur as well.

Around 200 people have been reportedly injured in different parts of the earthquake-affected districts.

According to Dhan Prasad Chaulagain of the Lalitpur District Post Office, his 55-year-old uncle Chitra Prasad Chaulagain and aunty, whose name has not been ascertained, were killed when their house went down in Bhimeswor municipality-5, Dolakha.

Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed three deaths in Teku, Samakhusi and Matatirtha in Kathmandu. One of the three killed is an 11-year-old girl. She was crushed to death by a wall.

Several houses have collapsed in Naya Bajar and Gongabu areas of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. More people are believed to be buried there. Rescuers are busy pulling out people alive.

After the earthquake, Kathmandu’s only international airport was closed for almost half an hour. People had rushed out of their houses, offices and the airport after the earthquake. There were at least five aftershocks within the first hour of the earthquake.

According to Bhakta Kumari Lama, a student union leader currently in Boch village of Dolakha, huge palls of smoke swirled around after the earthquake. Lama said the earthquake triggered landslides on the surrounding hills.

Two weeks ago, just before noon on 25 April, a 7.8 earthquake epicentered around Barpak of Gorkha, had rattled central and western Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and leaving more than 17,000 people wounded.

Tuesday’s earthquake, epicentered around Namche bazaar of Solukhumbu district, strikes at a time when search and rescue works continue for the 25 April earthquake survivors.

Schools closed down after the 25 April earthquake were scheduled to be reopened from coming Friday. Education officials are now discussing whether they can reopen schools from this week.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 06:30

http://nepalitimes.com/blogs/mycity/201 ... hupalchok/

Seems hardest hit even before the second punch. Must be difficult to cope with this continuous barrage of shakes.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 06:36

http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebri ... -shelters/

Chiran built the shelter house by using materials provided by Karuna Foundation, a Netherlands-based NGO, working in Nepal since 2007.

In Chalnakhel village, situated on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, Karuna Foundation has provided materials to build temporary shelters to 60 families. While 10 families are building temporary shelter houses like Chiran’s, others are using the corrugated sheets as roofs for their new houses.

The arch-shaped shelter house built by Chiran costs less than 100 USD (Rs 9,600). It requires just three pieces of iron rods and nine pieces of corrugated sheets, apart from nuts, bolts and iron wires.

“These shelters are safer and stronger than tents, yet cheap and easy-to-built,” says Chet Kumar Khatri, a civil engineer specialised in earthquake engineering. “If we have all the materials ready, we can build a shelter in less than an hour.”

Khatri is guiding people to build cheaper, safer and stronger shelters in Chalnakhel, where nearly 80 per cent houses have been damaged by the earthquake. He says: “These shelters can also be moved to different locations.”

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 06:46

Not a very concrete future

Because so many of Kathmandu's cement-built structures survived, it reinforced public perception that that these are structurally safer than traditional mud-brick buildings. However, engineers specialising in seismic-resistant housing, say Nepalis may have been lulled into a false sense of security with this renewed trust in concrete.

They say the way moulds for concrete beams and slabs are prepared and use of substandard raw materials may make cement houses more unsafe in future quakes. Concrete in itself isn’t bad, but it needs know-how and training to be properly used.

“The only reason concrete structures survived this time was that the intensity and duration of the earthquake was not as big as predicted," said Padma Sundar Joshi of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (HABITAT). "If the intensity was a notch higher and if the shaking had gone on for 10 second longer, the concrete buildings would have also come down."

The problem lies with traditional masons who lack the training and knowledge to ready concrete moulds, their lack of understanding of the minimum requirements of how to prepare joints for iron rods, not following time limits on mixing cement, unsafe house designs with cantilevers and unnecessary decorations. Joshi warned: “If we don’t change the way we lay concrete in Nepal, building more cement houses will lead to disaster."

At HABITAT and NSET, experts believe that the next phase after emergency tent and tarpaulin is for the mass distribution of corrugated sheets which can be used for roofing of improvised houses made from salvaged bricks which can be recycled for building permanent homes later. Nepal currently produces 80,000 tin sheets every day, and this production capacity is enough to meet demand.

The Nepal Engineering Association (NEA) has deployed 3,000 engineers to go house-to-house for a rapid assessment of buildings to categorise them as liveable, repairable and ones that need to be demolished. After the earthquake and aftershocks, many families haven't gone back to their homes even though they are safe, and others can be retrofitted.

Upadhyay reckons that one-third of the 600,000 houses that were destroyed or damaged in the earthquake can be repaired, and this would be cheaper than rebuilding them.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 07:38

The landslide map shows all major highways to the North must be closed. All this from the last two weeks compilation. Today's must have generated even more landslides.

“To date, the response teams have identified over 3,000 landslides, and assembled a database of over 250 identified landslides and other large mass movements, focusing specifically on those that were generated by the earthquake and its aftershocks or other secondary effects.”

http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2015 ... ke-update/

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 07:48

Landslide videos shows the devastation across the valley as far as the eye can see as it is happening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc7mq4jkYTA

BBC video of Langtang after the landslides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BEDRlFImD8

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 13 May 2015 08:08

Look at the scale of these landslides.

Roads are completely buried !

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 13 May 2015 08:16

I should absolutely not be saying this. But the too nos. earthkwakes have been equal opportunity bury-er of both masala and aksess routes. Poor china. All those dreams of drilling under the everest! So sad.

Look for more nomsense up north and down east, now that neypaul will be hard fo aksess for quite a while.

Melwyn · Post by **Melwyn** » 13 May 2015 11:19

This should give a good idea of how dangerous the terrain and relief work is.
We should be proud of our pilots who are able to deliver in such tough situation.

US Marine helicopter with 8 aboard missing in Nepal quake zone

vinod · Post by **vinod** » 13 May 2015 14:12

Given the pattern of the earthquakes in the last decade or so, it looks like it is moving across the sub-continent plate(Bhuj -> Kashmir -> Nepal). So, India should be ready for more earthquakes in Bhutan, Sikkim, north east areas bordering china. Have quick reaction teams ready, people trained etc. There should be a lot of lessons learnt from the Nepal experience which we can set in motion. This earthquake WILL happen but exact location and time is difficult to predict. But we can be prepared.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 13 May 2015 15:37

^^^ News on Tibet side is missing. The damages would be high that side too.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 13 May 2015 15:49

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... ks-for-it/
"Nepal earthquake: India adopts wait and watch approach, says won’t send team till Nepal asks for it"

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 13 May 2015 15:53

http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/ind ... 94551.html

India has taken the lead in negotiating a draft UN General Assembly resolution on the devastating Nepal earthquake that will underline the need for the international community to continue its support for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the country.

The resolution, co-sponsored by India, is expected to be tabled soon in the 193-member UN body and once adopted will affirm the "leading role and the primary responsibility" of the Nepalese government, with adequate support and cooperation from the international community, in the humanitarian response, rehabilitation, recovery, reconstruction and development plans for the country.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 13 May 2015 19:50

http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/05/12/cap ... 05122.html

Diplomatic efforts are underway to convert the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to India into a bilateral one when he will be attending the convocation ceremony of South Asian University, established by the Saarc member countries, on June 11.

Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhayay met National Security Adviser to the Indian PM Ajit Doval on Monday to appraise him on the upcoming visit of PM Koirala.

“I shared the initial preparations made on the PM’s upcoming visit,” Upadhayay told the Post, adding that both sides have made efforts to make the visit an official one.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 14 May 2015 00:22

Indian Teams and other International Teams are still in Nepal for Rehabilitation and restoration work. Due to already spreading rumour of bigger earthquake Nepalese are on heightened sense of alert. Hence casualties are less. Buildings which were weakened since last quake would have also collapsed. It seems ETF has carried out controlled demolitions to reduce dangers to civilians from such structures.

Additional teams are on stand by and if they are needed they would be sent. Now IE is indulging in lifafa journalism by claiming the India won't send more teams till Nepal asks for it. hat they forget is that teams are already there.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... ks-for-it/

saip · Post by **saip** » 15 May 2015 20:26

The US helicopter seems to have crashed. But looking at the map the site is very close to Chinese border. If China had problems with Indian helis flying close to their border, were they OK with US helis flying so close?

CT
Was it shot down?
CT off

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 15 May 2015 20:30

Fuel leak ? The first thought was what you say above that occurred to me. Maybe the leak is a consequence of taking a hit. No one is going to claim it openly. Neither the Chinese side or the US govt. It will remain under wraps after the investigation is finished.

BajKhedawal · Post by **BajKhedawal** » 16 May 2015 08:14

saip wrote:The US helicopter seems to have crashed. But looking at the map the site is very close to Chinese border. If China had problems with Indian helis flying close to their border, were they OK with US helis flying so close?

CT
Was it shot down?
CT off

First thought that came to me on seeing the crash site on the map.

One of the alphabet soup ameriki channel had a map showing were it went down, it was at a prominent chinese finger like territory jutting into Nepal.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 16 May 2015 11:23

Nepal quake and the Gorkha bond

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 17 May 2015 06:43

http://news.yahoo.com/wreckage-missing- ... 27518.html

After a three-day search crash debris was found 8 miles (13 km) north of the town of Charikot near dense forest and rugged terrain at an altitude of 11,200 ft (3,400 m).

That is right at the border.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 18 May 2015 11:13

Chinese team set to reopen KTM-Kerung road today

KATHMANDU, MAY 18 - A rescue team from China’s police has expedited repair works on the highway that links Kathmandu with Kerung in China, which it expects to reopen on Monday.

The powerful earthquakes damaged the road connecting Kerung with Nepal’s capital, blocking relief materials from reaching Rasuwa, one of the worst-hit districts.

At Nepal’s request, China had sent a road repair and rescue team from its Armed Police Forces to help restore the damaged road. The Chinese team sent two units to get through the road respectively from north and south, according to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu .

“Most affected locations have been repaired and cleared and the road is expected to be formally reopened soon,” the embassy stated. China is also restoring the Araniko Highway linking Khasa with Kathmandu , which was re-damaged by the May 12 aftershock.

China gives relief goods worth RMB 80m

China has also decided to send Nepal a third batch of relief materials worth RMB 80 million ($12.9 million). The Chinese Commerce Ministry said it has been working

closely with Nepal’s ministries and the Red Cross Society of China to transport the goods to Kathmandu as soon as possible.

The Chinese government has already provided two batches of humanitarian relief aid worth some RMB 60 million to Nepal since the April 25 earthquake.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 18 May 2015 11:17

Donors, Nepali officials divided over who leads rebuilding works

KATHMANDU, MAY 18 - Opinions are divided over the institutional framework that will oversee the massive rebuilding activities that need to be carried out--whether it should be through an existing government mechanism or a separate new entity.

The government itself has not reached a decision. However, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has been dropping hints that the government was considering setting up a high-powered reconstruction authority.

Speaking at a government-donor meeting on Friday, Finance Secretary Suman Sharma suggested that there should be an early decision on forming an institutional mechanism.

“The government is undecided on the matter. I just propose that there should be a decision on the matter as a food for thought,” said Sharma.

Officials believe that forming a separate body for reconstruction would be a good idea instead of relying on the existing mechanism given the urgency in reconstruction efforts.

“For a speedy reconstruction, there should be quick decision-making and procurement which cannot be done under the current mechanisms because they have been formed for regular activities,” said Sharma. “Those who are opposing the idea of a separate body should first suggest an alternative.”

Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai is also in favour of a separate entity and has expressed readiness to serve as a member in such a unit.

However, donors are not on the same page on the oversight body.

According to the World Bank, a key donor to Nepal, global experience suggests that there are many disadvantages to establishing a new government entity to implement such a programme.

“While it may be useful to have a single agency coordinate the overall reconstruction programme, global experience suggests that there are many disadvantages to establishing a new government entity to implement such a programme,” said the World Bank Country Manager for Nepal, Johannes Zutt, in a letter to the editor to the Post last week.

Establishing such an entity, according to the World Bank, could waste time and energy early in the recovery period; create competition between itself and the line ministries for both budget and experts; blur mandates and responsibilities and slow down decision-making; weaken the capacity of existing ministries by taking away their best officers; and potentially result in a permanent agency that will struggle to find a new mandate once the post-earthquake emergency has ended.

However, a senior official with another leading donor agency thinks that forming a separate authority as a “special purpose vehicle makes sense” as the reconstruction process needs quick implementation, decision making and efficiency.

“We are, however, more concerned about how it is formed and how the human resource is made available to such an institution and whether they would bring a shortage of human resource in other agencies of the government,” said the chief of the donor agency. According to Rameshwor Khanal, former finance secretary, the existing government institutions, such as the National Planning Commission, could work as the oversight body. However, any agency assigned to carry out reconstruction activities must be legally empowered to take quick decisions.

“The institution should have a certain deadline to complete the reconstruction programme and the officials appointed to such a body should not be changed as long as they are not found to have been involved in corruption,” he added. The idea of forming a separate Disaster and Reconstruction Ministry has also been floated.

One major worry is that a new entity could be resisted by the existing government agencies, a vivid manifestation of which is the case of Investment Board Nepal. The IBN has been struggling to get support from various government agencies.

As far as international experience is concerned, the Indonesian government had established a special agency called the Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in Aceh and Nias with a four-year mandate to conduct reconstruction activities in Banda Aceh and surrounding areas after they were devastated by a tsunami.

In India, a separate Gujarat Disaster Management Authority was set up to coordinate reconstruction following an earthquake in 2001.

In the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in 2005, the Pakistani government had formed an Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority