Interview: NPC will work in coordination with reconstruction authority

Donors pledged more than US$ 4.4 billion for reconstruction in the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction (ICNR) held in Kathmandu last week. The Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report prepared by National Planning Council (NPC) helped donors to assess damages made by the earthquake and estimate funds for reconstruction.

Subhash Ghimire, Guna Raj Luitel and Laxman Biyogi of Republica talked with Govind Raj Pokharel, vice chairman of NPC, on PDNA, reconstruction plans and budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Excerpts:

The government is making final preparation for budget for fiscal year 2015/16? Have you been receiving any political pressure?

Our budget preparation process still follows old traditions. We have been returning files of petty projects registered by ministers and lawmakers to their respective ministries. We even stopped publishing development program book part 2 from this fiscal year to discourage such practice. It takes around four months to get approval for projects after the budget is endorsed by the parliament. Now, we have agreed that NPC will not have to approve the programs once the budget is endorsed. We are holding discussion on program implementation part. It will help to ensure transparency in execution of development programs.

The budget this year was supposed to be prepared after seeking business plans from different ministries. Has the process been followed?

We held meetings with every ministry to discuss on the issue. We had even prepared plan to allocate budget under different headings like procurement plans and detailed project report (DPR). However, the entire process was affected by the earthquake. Now, we cannot follow the process as we have only around 15 days left. We, however, have directed some developmental ministries to put some of their programs on hold for study this year. It is difficult to improve the existing tradition overnight. However, if a new process begins this year, it will be implemented another year.

What about the national pride projects?

We must include all big and national pride projects in the budget. However, local projects have to be removed gradually. This will change the traditional process of preparing budget.

How will NPC work in coordination with the proposed authority for reconstruction?

It won't be possible to prepare detailed plan of reconstruction right now. The Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report has already clarified what needs to be done in the reconstruction phase. The framework for cost of reconstruction in 21 affected sectors has already been prepared in PDNA. We would be able to tell how much fund would be required only after conducting detailed study of the affected sectors. NPC will work with the proposed authority to allocate budget in affected areas.

Around 10,000 schools have been damaged and students are forced to take classes under tents. When will the situation end?

We have planned to reconstruct all damaged schools and educational institutions within next two years. NPC will be involved in the reconstruction process. We are preparing earthquake-resistant designs for school buildings. The reconstruction of school buildings will begin once the designs are approved.

Large projects running under foreign assistance are not being implemented. Is it because we don't have ready projects (project bank)?

We have discussion to prepare project bank in each ministry from the coming fiscal year. We have requested the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) to allocate up to Rs 250 for the purpose. We have asked the ministry to immediately begin study for road, bridge and hydropower projects after the monsoon ends. It will help the ministry to complete DPR of different projects within next fiscal year.