Prime Minister directs Erra to expedite reconstruction in quake-affected areas

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday directed the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to expedite reconstruction and rehabilitation activity in the earthquake-affected areas and complete the work within the given timeframe.
He said this while presiding over a meeting here at PM Secretariat to review the performance of Erra regarding reconstruction and rehabilitation. The Prime Minister also asked Erra to involve elected representatives while giving final shape to the proposals regarding reconstruction activities to benefit the actual affectees.
He stressed the need for ensuring transparency, accountability and international validity of the reconstruction process. The Prime Minister decided to hold Erra council meeting every month, instead of three months, with a view to expedite the whole reconstruction process and ease out the affected people.
He approved Rs 700 million for land acquisition in the new Balakot city. He also directed the AJK and NWFP governments to allocate money for maintenance of the new facilities in their respective areas to benefit the people in long run. The Prime Minister asked Erra to bring complete and solid suggestions, in the next meeting of the Council, regarding construction of new Balakot city.
He directed to expedite efforts to launch work on new Muzaffarabad city, Bagh and Rawlakot cities also. The participants, including Federal Ministers and AJK Prime Minister, gave various proposals to speed up reconstruction activities in the affected areas. Earlier, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Erra gave detailed briefing regarding reconstruction activities in the quake-affected areas.
The Deputy Chairman informed the meeting that reconstruction activities would be completed by April next year. He said that Erra is working with the concerned governments in 12 sectors of reconstruction.
He said that town planning for Muazaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot and new Balakot cities has been finalised. He said that so far over Rs 2 billion has been disbursed to the people to reconstruct their homes. He said that all schools, hospitals, banks, offices and roads in the affected areas are now operational.
He informed the meeting that 3,56,451 houses have so far been completed, while 1,63,747 would be completed shortly. Similarly, he said, 5,343 educational institutions, 307 health facilities and 4080 water supply and sanitation schemes would be completed by the end of the current financial year. The Deputy Chairman informed the meeting that according to initial estimates $4.3 billion was required for reconstruction but due to price escalation another $1.4 billion would be needed.