Kathmandu. The Ministry of Finance has agreed to source Rs 2.19 billion for the repair and reconstruction of roads in Ilam district damaged by heavy rains on October 3 and 2.

The Ministry of Finance has given source consent for the repair and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges presented by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The amount will be used for the repair and reconstruction of Mechi Highway, Maikhola bridge, Rajduwali, Maikhola bridge, Belbase, Puwakhola bridge, Jogmai river bridge and Mechi corridor.

The Ministry of Finance has released Rs 540 million for the current fiscal year. With the source consent, the way has been opened to move forward the tender process for the reconstruction of roads and bridges.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development Kulman Ghising directed the Department of Roads to initiate tender process immediately for the repair and reconstruction of damaged road structures.

The work will be implemented by the Road Division under the Department, Ilam.

The government on October 6 had declared Ilam a ‘disaster-hit zone’ for three months following monsoon-induced disasters that killed 39 people and damaged huge physical infrastructures.

On October 25, Minister Ghising, Secretary Keshab Kumar Sharma, Home Secretary Rameshwor Dangal, Director General of Department of Roads Bijaya Jaishi and Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Dinesh Raj Bhatta had reached Ilam to inspect the damage caused by the disaster.

The team expressed its commitment to provide immediate relief to the disaster-affected families, restore normal life by repairing the damaged structures and bring necessary immediate and long-term plans.

The highest amount of Rs 1.5 billion has been allocated for the reconstruction of Mechi Highway. Rs 200 million has been allocated for the construction of a permanent motorable bridge at Maikhola of the Mechi Highway, Rs 250 million for the construction of a permanent motorable bridge at Maikhola in the Mechi Corridor, Rs 5÷50 million for the construction of a bailey bridge over Puwakhola and Jogmai Khola bridge, and Rs 140 million for the Mechi corridor.

Out of this, Rs 250 million has been released for the Mechi Highway, Rs 50 million and Rs 100 million for Maikhola Rajduwali and Maikhola bridge Belase respectively and Rs 40 million for Mechi corridor in the current fiscal year. All the funds required for the construction of two bailey bridges have been released.