Pace of post-quake reconstruction too slow, say German MPs

A visiting German parliamentary delegation has expressed serious concern over the delay in executing post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery works in Nepal. An eight-member team led by Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of Bundestag, Dagmar Wöhrl, said a debate was being held on Nepal’s post-quake reconstruction works in the German parliament during the first anniversary of April 25 earthquake. “On the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake, we are going to discuss in Bundestag what have been achieved so far and what things remained to be done towards restoring life of people as well as destroyed infrastructures,” Wöhrl said during a press conference at the end of her five-day visit today.

to discuss where the German taxpayers’ money are being used or not used,” she said, while encouraging the government to ‘spend well’ the support pledged by the German government, which has committed 30 million euros grant assistance for the reconstruction of primary health facilities and district hospitals as well as the rehabilitation of local infrastructure and energy supply. Wöhrl also pointed out that “spending merely 13 per cent of foreign support is not simply enough”. She also emphasised the need for early local elections so as to carry out post-disaster recovery efforts from the grassroots level.