Quake-ravaged Nepal needs $6.6 billion for reconstruction: Government

Kathmandu, June 13: The cost for reconstruction of the earthquake-ravaged Nepal is approximately $6,663.1 million, according to a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) carried out by the Nepal Planning Commission on Saturday.

Reconstruction of damaged physical infrastructures has become the most difficult task to the Nepal government after two major earthquakes jolted the Himalayan Nation on April 25 and May 12, Xinhua reported.

"Nepal needs approximately $6,663.1 million for brining the country back on track," the Prime Minister's Office said in a press release on Friday following a meeting chaired by Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is also the chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC).

The commission was all set to make public the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment details in a press conference in the Nepalis Capital Kathmandu on Saturday.

Bringing the dwindling economy back on track would be a very challenging task since the economy was badly affected by the 7.9 magnitude of earthquake that claimed 9,000 lives and leaving 22, 000 people injured. Various sectors including industry, agriculture, tourism, health and education were badly hit.

Setting up a National Reconstruction fund of $2 billion, the Nepali government last month urged the international community to contribute to the fund. The government had provided $200 million as the seed money for the fund.

In view of seeking to support mobilisation of resources for Nepal's reconstruction, the Nepali government is all set to host a donors' conference on June 25 in Kathmandu.

"This is going to be a major conference seeking to support mobilization 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," Officiating Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi told Xinhua.

IANS