The Timber Corporation of Nepal (TCN) has distributed 90,000 cubic feet timber for house reconstruction in the Kathmandu valley.
TCN general manager Raju Laudari said the corporation supplied this quantity of timber for the reconstruction of 2,450 houses in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The houses were damaged by the Gorkha Earthquake that struck the central part of Nepal in April 2015.
He said the corporation has been providing the hewn timber for house reconstruction as demanded.
"We have already distributed 90,000 cubic feet timber out of the demand placed for 258,000 cubic feet of timber for this purpose. The corporation will provide the remaining 168,000 cubic feet of timber soon," general manager Laudari said. It is stated that 168,000 cubic feet timber would be sufficient for the reconstruction of 3,000 more houses.
TCN started distributing timber for the reconstruction of houses and monuments in the Kathmandu valley since June 12, 2017, following the approval on February 4, 2016 of the Guideline for Production and Management of Timber for Earthquake Survivors by a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
As per the Guidelines, a committee coordinated by the Chief District Officer of the earthquake-affected district is responsible for collecting data for the quantity of timber required, for applying to the Department of Forests for the supply of the required timber, for making arrangements for the distribution and security of the timber and for monitoring the timber distribution.
Similarly, the corporation has made available 25,000 cubic feet timber required for the reconstruction of archaeological heritages in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dolakh, Nuwakot, Gorkha, among other earthquake-hit districts.
Although application had been made for the supply of 50,000 cubic feet timber for the reconstruction of the heritage sites, the corporation has so far provided only half that quantity.
TCN general manager Laudari said the corporation will provide timber for reconstruction of heritages as per the demand.
The corporation has been providing maximum 50 cubic feet timber to a earthquake-affected household for house reconstruction depending on the house blueprint and area. It provides the timber at the rate of Rs 2,740 per cubic foot.
