KATHMANDU: An estimated Rs 95.42 billion will be required to remove debris, including rocks, earth, sand, and wreckage from buildings left behind by the massive flooding of the Bhotekoshi River.
The Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority estimates that the amount will be required for immediate and long-term recovery and restoration.
The report estimates that the funds will be needed to remove the wreckage of collapsed buildings, reduce disaster risks, and carry out inclusive rehabilitation under the cross-cutting sector.
According to the report, debris from damaged and washed-away buildings worth Rs 48.24 billion has accumulated following the floods. Similarly, the floods deposited an estimated Rs 2 billion worth of soil. The cost of removing the deposited soil alone is estimated at more than Rs 300 million.
Likewise, Rs 350 million is estimated to be required immediately and Rs 944 million in the long term for disaster risk reduction. The funds will be used to remove debris from waterways, manage rivers and protect settlements, develop command areas, prevent erosion of high riverbanks and landslides, restore irrigation systems, and establish multi-hazard early warning systems.
The report estimates that Rs 150 million will be required for inclusive rehabilitation over the next six months. The amount will be spent on rehabilitation and reconstruction, addressing the needs of at-risk and marginalised communities, women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
The report states that 31.1 percent of the work to remove building debris, stones, soil, and sand can be completed within six months. It also estimates that only 0.4 percent of disaster risk reduction work can be completed during the same period.
Inclusive rehabilitation and reconstruction works are also expected to be completed within that period.
For immediate recovery, Rs 67.42 billion is estimated to be required for infrastructure. This will cover projects related to hydropower and the electricity grid, household renewable energy, roads, bridges, communications, sanitation and drinking water, irrigation, and river management.
An estimated Rs 8.29 billion will be required immediately for recovery in the social sector. This amount will be spent on rebuilding private homes, public buildings and facilities, as well as restoring education, health, and cultural infrastructure.
Similarly, an estimated Rs 5 billion will be needed for the immediate recovery of the productive sector. The funds will be used for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, banking, economic activities, and livelihoods.
The report also estimates that Rs 8.6 billion will be required immediately, or within six months, for debris removal and disaster risk reduction.
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