The government is preparing to issue an ordinance to form a high-level committee to undertake post-earthquake reconstruction projects.
Despite objection from some opposition parties, the ruling NC and UML on Sunday reached an agreement to carry out post-earthquake reconstruction works through an ordinance.
As per the agreement between the two ruling parties, ‘Ordinance on Reconstruction of the Structures Damaged by Earthquake -2015' will be tabled in a cabinet meeting. President Ram Baran Yadav is expected to approve the ordinance as soon as the cabinet passes it.
The main opposition UCPN (Maoist) was pressing for a reconstruction and rehabilitation act to be passed by the legislature parliament. But the NC and the UML refused to pass the act, citing lack of time.
Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam told journalists that the government does not have adequate time to follow the process of passing an act.
National News Agency has reported that the ordinance will probably be passed by a cabinet meeting Sunday evening.
The government wants to introduce an ordinance before the 25 June conference of donors on reconstruction of Nepal, which was devastated by the 25 April earthquake and its powerful aftershocks. Donors want an outline of how financial assistance pledged for Nepal's reconstruction will be spent.
According to Gautam, the draft of the ordinance contains provision for forming the Prime Minister-led National Advisory Committee, which will be monitored by an independent mechanism. The committee will have a Chief Executive Officer, and people can complain against it in another quasi-judicial council.
Earlier, the National Planning Commission (NPC) had submitted a proposal to the government to form a PM-headed committee to carry out post-earthquake reconstruction works. As per a Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report prepared by the NPC, the government requires at least US$ 5.15 billion to carry out reconstruction works in the earthquake-affected districts.
The earthquake has badly affected 14 districts, where at least two million people are homeless and require support to rebuild their houses and lives.