Nepal has appointed head of the reconstruction authority which was formed to expedite the post-quake rebuilding process in the country.
The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) will be headed by Sushil Gyawali, currently serving as the executive director of the Town Development Fund.
A Cabinet meeting yesterday named Gyawali, a civil engineer with two decades of experience in local governance, as the Chief Executive Officer of the authority following months of political wrangling.
"I will try to make Nepali reconstruction plan a role model for the world," Gyawali told media persons soon after his appointment.
He said he will focus on wider participation of local people and seek support of political parties and international donors.
Nearly four months after a massive earthquake devastated Nepal, the government constituted the long-delayed NRA to lead the over USD 6 billion reconstruction efforts.
Gyawali's appointment comes at a time when Nepal is facing a kind of humanitarian crisis due to the four-month long blockade on the Nepal-India border by Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin, that has caused acute shortage of fuel and medicines across the country.
Immediately after assuming the office, Gyawali said would start relief packages for quake survivors to save them from cold.
"Saving earthquake survivors lives from extreme cold will be my first and foremost priority. I will start formulating reconstruction framework from tomorrow on how to move ahead," he said.
International donors pledged USD 4.4 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation works during a conference in August.
In addition to this the Nepal government has allocated Rs 74 billion to National Reconstruction Fund (NRF).
The government has announced various schemes for reconstruction and recovery of the quake-affected people.
The government had announced Rs 200,000 in aid to each of the families rendered homeless and Rs 15,000 cash for building temporary shelters for earthquake victimised, but is yet to complete the distribution of funds meant for immediate relief.
The devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 killed nearly 9,000 people, injured tens of thousands and destroyed some 500,000 homes.
