The document summarizes the reconstruction efforts of public infrastructure in Nepal following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. It notes that 645 government buildings, 216 security buildings, 751 health buildings, and 34 integrated settlements have been reconstructed, while work continues on 20 government buildings, 45 integrated settlements, and 388 health buildings. It outlines challenges around institutional capacity, materials, geography, and quality control. Strategies employed focused on a participatory "build back better" approach, revising guidelines, deploying trained staff, and quality assurance. Lessons learned include the importance of participatory integrated settlements, cost optimization, documentation, and adapting new methods and materials for old structures.

1. National Reconstruction Authority
Thematic Presentation - Public infrastructures (Government Buildings, Health Buildings,
Integrated Settlements, and Old Palaces): Reconstruction Process and Technology
National Reconstruction Authority
Lila Khatiwada

2. 2021
• Reconstruction Completed : 645 Government Buildings
including community buildings; 216 Security Buildings; 751
Health Buildings; 34 Integrated settlements
• Work Ongoing: 20 Government buildings; 45 Integrated
settlements; 388 health buildings
Government Buildings,
Health Buildings,
Integrated Settlements,
and Old Palaces -
Reconstruction Process
and Technology
Overview
2015, Gorkha Earthquake
• 7.6 magnitude Earthquake on April 25 and 6.8 magnitude
major aftershock on May 12
• Damage and losses: 2656 Government Buildings including
Security Buildings, Health buildings and others destroyed,
3622 partially damaged (PDRF report)

3. Challenges and constraints (1) Institutional / organisational
• Organizational structure and capacity in such large scale
reconstruction
• Policy documents and process
• Standards methods and confidence.
• Revision of design code as per current social and economic
perspective.
• Code and standard compliance reconstruction
Operational / practical
• Materials - methods and modality
• Geography - access and suitable land.
• Human Resources - both skilled and unskilled
• Quality - control and assurance

4. Challenges and constraints (2)
Retrofitting of Heritage Buildings
• Debate on Retrofitting vs. Reconstruction
• Availability of tested retrofitting technology
• Material selection and acceptability
• Implementation capacity (technical)
Integrated Settlements
• To connect original settlement, livelihoods with new
settlements
• Non-willingness of beneficiaries towards new settlements…
• Geography, accessibility and limited resources

5. Strategies
Institutional / organisational
• Principle: ‘Build Back Better’
• Revision of guidelines: procurement, environmental
assessment, land use and management
• Deployment of trained human resources
• Applications of current approach in Design and
implementation
• Quality control and assurance in design and
implementation
• Participatory approach to integrated settlement

6. Methods and
approaches (2)
• Detailed damage assessment and seismic vulnerability assessment
• Non-destructive and semi destructive tests (Push shear tests, flat
jack tests, timber decay tests, mortar tests, brick sample tests:
especially for masonry building) to obtain information on building
structural components
• Retrofitting Principle: preservation of original character and
materials, visual compactible, reversible materials techniques
• Design Principle: increased diaphragm rigidity, connection
improvement, place specific intervention
• Retrofitting Material: use of Archeologically accepted materials

7. Lessons learned (1)
Institutional and organisational
• Participatory approach: from planning to operations and
maintenance in integrated settlements
• Cost Optimization: uniformity in design, implementation,
operation and maintenance stages
• Documentation: For institutional memory and future disaster.
• Provision of operation/maintenance fund to make it well
condition.

8. Operational / human resources
• Knowledge/capacity of technical human resources
• Connect new settlement with social and livelihood.
• Adapting new methods, materials and capacity for old
structure.
• Best practices to be reflected in other areas
Lessons learned (2)

9. Key messages / takeaways 1. Built back better with current scenario
2. Make process competitive, transparent and
participatory
3. Ensure uniformity in design and
implementation
4. Preserve Important and Old Palaces with
appropriate technology
5. Ensure proper documentation and handover