ISLAMABAD (May 08 2009): Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) will spend Rs 4.5 billion on clean drinking water projects in quake affected areas during the next one and half year. According to the sources the funds would be spent in the affected areas on potable water projects while state-of-the-art testing laboratories would also be established in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram and Mingora.

Similar, projects would be implemented in AJK with assistance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the local authorities. Meanwhile, regarding rural housing reconstruction programme, the sources said that it aimed at completing 462,900 houses that were completely destroyed during the October 8th earthquake of 2005 in northern parts of Pakistan.

'So far 388,949 houses have been completely reconstructed as per seismic resistant designs given by Erra and victims have been provided Rs 64.75 billions as the rural housing subsidy," sources said, adding, "his is in addition to 101,091 houses that were partially damaged and 46,725 houses that suffered negligible damage, which were given Rs 5 billions and Rs 1.1 billions, respectively"

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2009