CHOPPERS FOR ARMY: Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, centre, observes the newly bought MI-17V-5 helicopters from Russia for the Nepal army air wing in Kathmandu yesterday. The two new helicopters are bought to assist the earthquake victims and in the case of emergencies like natural disasters and rescue operations in future.

IANS
Kathmandu
Nepal is gearing up to establish a reconstruction authority headed by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala nearly two months after a massive earthquake jolted the Himalayan nation, government officials said yesterday.
Government spokesman Minendra Rijal said an Ordinance on Authority for Reconstruction of the Structures Damaged by Earthquake has been forwarded to President Ram Baran Yadav for endorsement.
President Yadav is set to issue the ordinance any time soon on the recommendation of the council of ministers to form the reconstruction authority, the president’s adviser Surya Dhungel told Xinhua.
The government has planned to form such an authority ahead of the International Donors’ Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction scheduled for Thursday with the theme “Towards a Resilient Nepal.”
A meeting of the ruling parties has agreed to constitute the ordinance in the absence of the regular session of parliament. The authority is designed to supervise post-quake reconstruction following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake on April 25 and ensuing aftershocks.
“The authority is very much essential to convince the international community during the conference to extend support to Nepal in its bid to rebuild the country,” an official said on
condition of anonymity.
According to Minister for General Administration Lal Babu Pandit, the 11-member authority would be created under the leadership of prime minister with four ministers.
Similarly, a chief executive officer, three experts and chief secretary and vice-chairman of National Planning Commission will be in the authority. “The tenure of the authority will be five years,” the minister said.
The government is calling the donors’ conference to seek resources for reconstruction in Nepal, officiating foreign secretary Shanke Das Bairagi said.
“This is going to be a major conference seeking to support mobilisation of resources for Nepal’s reconstruction in the aftermath of devastating earthquake and together with its subsequent aftershocks. Our intention is to invite the traditional as well as new partners, UN agencies and other relevant
organisations,” the official said.
According to the Nepalese government, 50,000 private houses were destroyed and 30,000 houses partially damaged in the devastating quakes.
Nepal needs Rs666.31bn ($6.7bn) in short and medium terms for recovery of all its 23 sectors, according to a report of the post disaster needs assessment.