Rs 95.42 Billion Required For Removing Bhotekoshi Flood Debris: Report

Kathmandu, Sept 11: It is estimated that Rs 95.42 billion will be required for removing the debris including rocks, earth, sand and the building wreckages left behind by the massive flooding in the Bhotekoshi river.

The Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) Report prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority mentions that this is the estimated cost for immediate and long-term restoration.

The report estimates that this amount will be needed for removing the wreckage of collapsed buildings, reducing disaster risk, and for inclusive restoration, under the heading of 'cross-cutting' sector.

It is estimated that debris of damaged and washed away buildings worth Rs 48.24 billion have been piled up after the flood. Similarly, about Rs 2 billion worth of soil is deposited by the flood. It is estimated that just removing this will cost more than Rs 300 million.

Likewise, it is estimated that Rs 350 million will be spent immediately and Rs 944 million in the long term for disaster risk reduction, totaling Rs 947.5 million. This expense is expected to cover removing debris in waterways, river management and settlement protection, developing command areas, preventing erosion of high riverbanks and landslides, restoring irrigation systems, and developing multi-hazard early warning systems.

The report shows that Rs 150 million is immediately needed for inclusive rehabilitation over the next six months. This amount will be spent on rehabilitation and reconstruction, covering the needs of at-risk and marginalized communities, women, children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

The report mentions that the work of removing the building debris, stones, soil, and sand can be 31.1 percent completed within six months. It also states that only 0.4 percent of the work can be carried out under risk reduction management.

Inclusive rehabilitation and reconstruction works are likely to be completed within that time. For immediate recovery, Rs 67.42 billion will be spent on infrastructure. This will cover work related to hydropower and the grid in the energy sector, household renewable energy, roads, bridges, communication, sanitation and drinking water, irrigation, and river-related projects.

It is estimated that about Rs 8.29 billion will be needed immediately for the recovery works in the social sector. This amount will be spent on rebuilding private homes, public buildings and facilities, education, health, and cultural areas. For the immediate recovery of the production sector, it is estimated that Rs 5 billion will be needed. This amount will be spent on agriculture, fishery, livestock, banking, economic activities, and livelihood.

Also, the PDNA Report estimated that it will cost Rs 8.6 billion immediately, that is, over six months, to remove the debris and reduce disaster risk.