National Reconstruction Authority, lead by Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government published a notice offending not able to grant of Rs 100,000 as per announced. NRA has set a target of rebuilding at least 60 per cent houses of earthquake victims this fiscal, which means 50,000 houses should be rebuilt this fiscal. A total of 93,000 houses have been built with the NRA’s assistance so far, and 230,000 houses are under construction. Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority Yuba Raj Bhusal told that NRA needed another Rs 100 billion to provide grants of Rs 300,000 to quake victims, but the government had allocated only Rs 53 billion this fiscal. “If we provide additional Rs 100,000 to quake victims, that will increase financial burden of Rs 100 billion on the NRA and I do not think we will be able to provide such a huge amount to victims this fiscal,” Bhusal added. Bhusal said although the government made provisions for bank loans to quake victims, only 659 people took the loan, which was not even one per cent of quake victims who had to rebuild their houses. “Only those victims who have taken Rs 300,000 grant from the government are eligible for bank loans. Bhusal said quake victims needed to meet technical requirements to get the second tranche of the grant but since many victims had not received technical assistance, they were unable to get the second tranche. Bhusal said 100,000 houses were damaged by the quake in Kathmandu, but only 4,300 houses had been reconstructed and 15,000 houses were under construction. “Owners of 80,000 quake-damaged houses have not started reconstruction yet and I believe the victims have not been able to do so mainly due to financial crunch.” He added that he would hold a meeting with the banks tomorrow to discuss how they could provide  loans to quake victims. “In urban areas, a grant of Rs 300,000 may be just enough to demolish a quake victim’s house,” he argued. CEO Bhusal said his office was collecting data of quake victims who were unable to rebuild their houses due to their age, social and physical conditions. “I am planning to rebuild the houses of victims who are above 70 and single women above 65,” Bhusal said, adding that his office would rebuild houses of orphans below 16 and quake victims with physical disability. “Old people, juvenile orphans and quake victims with physical disability cannot rebuild their houses even if the government gives them one million rupees,” Bhusal said and added that once his office collected data from all ward offices of local levels, his office would request Red Cross and other organisations to rebuild their houses. There are 767,705 households that are eligible for housing grants.

Pashupati Area Development Trust along with the help of Gaushala Police Station are able to declare Pashupati Area as a marijuana-free zone, since Shivaratri is just a few days away. If anybody found dealing around Pashupati Area the local police are authorized to interrogate any suspected visitors or priests around the premises. Local authority is taking this move in view of the upcoming Mahashivaratri festival, which falls on February 13, this year. During the festival period, around thousands of devotes including shadus will be visiting the holy place from different parts of country and other south Indian countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Mostly drug peddlers in the guise of sadhus sell marijuana to drug abusers, according to PADT Secretary Pradeep Dhakal. He added that even sadhus wouldn’’t be allowed to carry or smoke marijuana on the temple’s premises. The law prohibits use, purchase and sale marijuana. Pashupatinath temple covers an area of 264 hectares and people indulging in drugs in Gujeshowri, Mrigasthali, Biswarup and Ram Mandir areas is a common sight, according to police.  

The Narayanghat-Mugling road section, which connects the Capital City with the outer eastern and western parts of the country, will be closed during day time starting Saturday afternoon to expedite the road expansion and maintenance drive. “Vehicles will be barred from plying the road section from from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm for a month in a bid to facilitate the road widening drive”, said Chitwan Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta. The Local Administration, Narayangadh-Muglin Road Project, Consultant and Contractor Company jointly took the decision to halt the vehicular movement on the road. The decision to this effect was made to speed up the construction which is easier in day time rather than night.