ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Government
has established an authority to be called the Earthquake Reconstruction
and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) for carrying out post-disaster damage
assessment, reconstruction and rehabilitation of quake- affected areas.
It was said in a notification issued here Monday. Following is the text
of the notification:
"Headquarters of the Authority
The headquarters of the Authority shall be at the Prime Minister's Secretariat, Islamabad, of which it will be a part, and it may establish its temporary sub-offices at such other places in the earthquake affected areas as it may consider appropriate to expedite the recovery, reconstruction, rehabilitation and development work. Area of Operation
The Authority shall undertake its operations in the affected areas of:
(a) Pakistan; (b) The Azad Jammu and Kashmir in consultation with is government. Functions of the Authority Subject to other provisions of this notification, the Authority shall be responsible for reconstruction, rehabilitation, and development of the earthquake affected areas and towards this end, its functions and duties shall be as follow:
(a) Surveys to assess damages and needs in the earthquake affected areas.
(b) Formulation of a comprehensive umbrella development programme to provide for
(i) planned settlements, housing, government buildings and offices, utilities and services, infrastructure, health and education facilities, irrigation and agriculture facilities as well as defense requirements:
(ii) environmental rebuilding including cleaning of watersheds, reforestation programmes and other environmental interventions to restore the ecosystems.
(c) Preparation of resettlement plan for the affected population is consultation with local communities, ensuring an appropriate mechanism for the resolution of land titles and land tenure issues.
(d) Getting general approval of its comprehensive development programme from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council.
(e) Identification, preparation, approval and execution of projects.
(f) Steps and measures to ensure execution of the approved projects and development progammes in accordance with the time schedule approved by the Council.
(g) Prescribing cost effective technology, building codes, architectural designs, specifications and construction materials for housing and other buildings in the earthquake prone areas to protect against future seismic activity.
(h) Review the building codes of the various urban development authorities and recommending for appropriate changes to ensure quality construction and to maintain building standards in the country.
(i) Facilitating the setting of reconstruction related industry in the affected zones.
(j) Performing any other function assigned to it by the federal government that is incidental to any of the aforesaid functions. Powers of the Authority
The Authority may:
(a) undertake any work, incur any expenditure, procure plants, machinery, equipments, vehicles for field duties and stores as needed for the implementation of approved development programmes and projects;
(b) dispose of such plants, machinery, equipments, vehicles and stores as are no longer required;
(c) employee such staff and officers as may be required for the functioning of the Authority;
(d) engage such experts, consultants, advisors, contractors and suppliers as may be programmes; (e) seek or call for any information required by it for carrying out its purposes from any person, or any institution or agency;
(f) seek and obtain from any agency of the federal government, provincial governments, and Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir or any local authority, advice and assistance to discharge its functions and execute its programmes and projects:
(g) approve individual projects, within the scope of the approved umbrella progammes, upto a cost determined by the Federal Government.
(h) transfer any project on completion to any agency of the federal government the provincial governments, and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir with the approval of the Council.
(i) approve the budget of the Authority; and (j) re-appropriate funds from one head of account to another account within the approved budget. 5. Management and Administration of the Authority
(1) The general direction, all matters of policy and administration of the Authority and its affairs shall vest in a Council which may exercise all powers, perform all functions and do all acts and things which may be exercised, performed or done by the Authority.
(2) Council.- The Council shall be apex body and shall consist of the following members, namely-
(i) Prime Minister of Pakistan Chairman
(ii) Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Member
(iii) Chief Minister of NWFP Member
(iv) Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Member
(v) Adviser to the Prime Minister for Finance Member
(vi) Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Member
(vii) Chairman, ERRA Member
(3) The Council may co-opt such members as may be as deemed necessary by it for the conduct of its business.
(4) Board.-
(a) There shall be a Board which shall be responsible for the implementation of the approved programmes, projects and policy decisions of the Council as well as for the day to day operational matters and shall have such administrative and financial powers as may be delegated to it by the Council.
(b) The Board shall comprise the following:
(i) Chairman ERRA Chairman
(ii) Member (Administration and Coordination) Member
(iii) member (Planning and Technical) Member
(iv) member (Implementation) Member
(v) Member (Finance) Member
(vi) Additional Finance Secretary (Expenditure) Member
(vii) Additional Secretary, Planning Division Member
(viii) Representatives of GHQ/10 Corps Member
(ix) Senior Member, Board of Revenue, NWFP Member
(x) Senior Member, Board of Revenue, AJK Member
(xi) Representative of National Highways Authority Member
(xii) Representatives of WAPDA Member
(xiii) Representatives of PTCL Member
(xiv) Representatives of SCO Member
(5) The Board may co-opt such other members as deemed necessary by it for the conduct of its business.
(6) The Government may, by notification in the official gazette, increase or decrease the number of members of the Council and the Board from time to time.
(7) The Board shall submit reports to the Council in respect of all its activities on a quarterly basis.
6. Meetings
(1) The meetings of the council and the Board shall be held at such times, places, and in such manner as may be specified.
(2) The Council shall meet at least once in three months or as often as the Chairman desires.
(3) The Board shall meet as often as is expedient to discharge its responsibilities and shall prescribe procedures for regulating its proceedings.
(4) The decisions of the Council and the Board shall be taken by the majority of its members present and, in case of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
7. Chairman, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority
(1) The Federal Government shall appoint a whole-time Chairman of the Authority who shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the Authority for such period and on such terms and conditions as the Federal Government may determine.
(2) The Chairman may, at any time, resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Federal Government.
(3) The Chairman shall not, during the term of his office, engage himself in any other service, business, vocation, or employment.
(4) The Chairman shall:
(a) exercise such management administrative, and financial powers as delegated by the Council;
(b) submit annual budget proposals of the authority to the Council for approval;
(c) prepare a bi-annual and an annual report of the Authority for the consideration of the Board; and
(d) take urgent decisions in emergent situations subject to reporting such decisions subsequently to the Council for ratification.
8. Financial Provisions
(1) Fund.- There shall be a fund to be known as the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority Fund which shall vest in the Authority and shall be utilized by the Authority to meet the charges in connection with its functions.
(2) The Fund shall consist of
(a) such sums as the Federal Government may, from time to time allocate to it in the annual budget;
(b) grants;
(c) all other sums or properties which may in any manner become payable to, or vest in, the Authority.
(3) The Board shall prepare the annual budget of the Authority by such date and in such form as may be specified by the Federal Government and submit it for the approval of the Council.
(4) The Board shall cause proper accounts to be kept and shall, after the end of each financial year, prepare for the financial year a statement of account of the Authority.
(5) The Chairman, ERRA shall be delegated the necessary financial powers to fully carry out his functions.
(6) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by the Auditor General of Pakistan.
(7) The Board may set up internal audit controls to maintain transparency.
9. Employees of the Authority The Authority may engage employees on contract basis and may also requisition services of experts and supporting staff from the government, including defence services.
10. Validity of Proceedings No act or proceedings of the Authority or the Council or the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of a vacancy, or defect, in the constitution of the Authority or the Council or the Board.
11. Indemnity No suit, prosecution, or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Authority, the Council, the Board, the chairpersons, or any member, officer, servant, adviser, consultant, expert of the Authority in respect of anything done in good faith under this notification.
12. Dissolution
(1) The Authority shall complete its mandate as specified in para 2 above within a period of thee years which may be extended as may be considered expedient.
(2) The Authority shall stand dissolved on the completion of its tasks.
(3) On dissolution, the services of all its employees, consultants, experts, advisers, study groups hired by the Authority on contract shall be dispensed with except those on deputation or requisition, who shall revert back to their parent departments.
(4) On dissolution, the entire record of the Authority including its accounts and ancillary papers shall remain in the custody of the Prime Minister's secretariat. This issues with the approval of the competent authority. Additional Secretary (IA) Prime Minister's Secretariat Islamabad."