A total of Rs 20 billion will be distributed among the survivors of October 8th devastating earthquake for construction of houses in AJK and NWFP, by June 30th, Chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra), Altaf M Saleem has said.
Talking to senior editors and journalists of print and electronic media at a briefing late Monday the Erra chairman said the authority has undertaken a damage survey of 145,000 houses.
The survivors will have their own shelter before the advent of the forthcoming winter. Altaf M Saleem said that quake has completely destroyed some 70 percent houses while 30 percent partly damaged.
"It would be a challenge for Erra to restore the business and normal activities in the earthquake stricken areas after the completion of relief efforts and campaign".
He said the Erra, after taking a complete shape, has started the reconstruction process.
The quake he said has also destroyed around 800 health facilities adding that Erra is involving the local community in the construction of educational and health facilities and buildings destroyed due to the earthquake.
He added that earthquake proof buildings will be constructed and equipped them with facilities with the involvement of the local population.
He said there are some schools where the enrolments of the students are low and buildings are large while in some areas the buildings are not enough to accommodate the students.
He added that it is the strategy of the Erra to construct the school buildings according to the need of the population.
Altaf said that during the survey a transparent and credible data has been collected and 145,000 houses have been surveyed with the help of latest equipment.
This data is being transferred to Nadra, he added.
He added that initially Rs 25,000 was given to the victims for construction of houses and then second and third instalment will be paid according to construction work position.
Altaf M Saleem said that till next winter no survivor of the earthquake will be in the tent. They will have their own shelter before the start of the winter, he remarked.
The chairman Erra said that skill development training in the earthquake affected areas are also being provided and many of them have also got training and doing the jobs.
He added that the victims will get total Rs 175,000 for his totally damaged house in the earthquake for rebuilding.
He added that Prime Minister of AJK and Chief Minister of NWFP are also the members of the Erra and the reconstruction work is being carried out in collaboration with the two provincial governments. Deputy Chairman Erra, Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed and Erra's senior officials were also present on the occasion.