Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) has started reconstruction work in the quake-hit areas of NWFP and AJK and initiated disbursement of compensation to the survivors to build their houses.
Deputy Chairman Erra, Major General Nadeem Ahmad who visited different quake-hit areas in Bagh recently distributed cheques of Rs 75,000 each among 50 quake-survivors to start the reconstruction process. He said Erra has started giving compensation money to the affected people for the reconstruction of their houses after complete assessment.
Major General Nadeem Ahmed assured that Erra will provide every possible support to the victims of quake-hit areas.
He appreciated the contribution of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) in assessment and sponsorship programme. He said Erra has planned 11 different programmes, and added the Authority will particularly focus on four major areas including livelihood, housing, health and education sectors.
Major General Nadeem said Erra will also start work on construction of road infrastructure, promotion of tourism in the area, provision of electricity, environment protection programme and promotion of industrial sector. Erra has prepared comprehensive policies for starting work on housing, health, education and livelihood programmes in the damaged areas.
Major General Nadeem Ahmad said under sponsorship programme any organisation, interested in construction of schools or hospitals in quake-hit areas will be asked to come forward and start work. He said Erra is striving to make new housing units in the quake-affected areas more safe to deal with any new earthquake. In this regard, he said Erra is working closely with donors and other stakeholders engaged in reconstruction work in the affected areas of NWFP and AJK.
He said teaching and paramedic staff will be provided in reconstructed schools and hospitals by Erra along with helping in reconstruction of buildings. General Nadeem Ahmad said under livelihood programme, special compensation of Rs 3,000 per month will be provided in next six months to families whose houses were destroyed.
He said priority will be given to widows, families with disabled members, orphans or those having no source of income. He said under this scheme over 0.2 million families will be supported. Most deserving families will get compensation for next one year, he added. "With these programmes we want to provide maximum facilities to the quake survivors," he said. General Nadeem said the role of community leaders is important in the reconstruction phase to maintain the standard of construction.
He said Pakistan army has contributed a lot in relief work and appreciated the exemplary role of local community who fully supported and helped during relief work. He said "We should maintain such commitment and courage shown in the early days of the quake and expressed the hope that courage will help rehabilitating the quake survivors."
Erra will set up 11 housing reconstruction centres in quake-hit areas and experts will be available in these centres to provide technical assistance regarding reconstruction of housing units, he said. General Nadeem said out of total, six centres will be set up in AJK one each in Bagh, Rawlakot, Muzaffarabad, Hatian etc while five in NWFP.
He said these centres will work as training schools where assistance will be provided to the people of quake-hit areas. Construction material hubs have been established in the affected areas by NWFP and AJK government to provide construction material for reconstruction of houses at controlled rates, added.
Deputy Chairman Erra said commenting on the response to sponsorship programme said many philanthropists who were earlier reluctant to start projects are now planning to get involved in sponsorship programme since Erra has started this programme and finalised its methodology and policy.
He said, "the programme will reduce fiscal pressure on the government." Under this programme projects will be completed in health and education sectors besides completing small projects like water supply schemes, community road infrastructure etc.
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