Cadastre rebuilding under way

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Chief Builder William Robins and Navy Lt. Calvin Warren made a follow-up visit to the Cadastre site to ensure proper reconstruction of the building, Jan. 23. The building was destroyed last year by a suicide bomber, killing two children, including the Cadastre's 9-year-old son, and destroyed half of the building. Shortly after the blast, members of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) initiated plans to assist in rebuilding.

The Cadastre, Sardar Mohamad Kakar, an Afghan official responsible for the safekeeping of land and property records, has been working from a temporary location since the attack. As Afghans discussed ways to resolve property disputes, a good facility for the safekeeping of records was needed.

Today, signs of a new beginning for the Cadastre building are seen. Afghan contractors have demolished the old building, cleaned the site for new construction, and laid the foundation. Robins, project manager and contracting representative, is responsible for its oversight.

"The contractor, Cadastre, and the KPRT engineering team are communicating well and all parties are in agreement with what has to be done," said Robins, an individual augmentee from the from the NMCB-133.

Remnants of the blast still linger in the area and will soon be cleared out. On first glance, the scene is busy with laborers and make-shift sleeping areas as if a blast had never occurred.

"Our involvement with this is important because it highlights a transition from using U.S. funding, which is how this project is funded, to the Afghan government," said Robins.

The KPRT works closely in mentoring the Afghan provincial government as it turns over projects like the Cadastre. As the last project the KPRT will initiate, members like Robins are encouraged by the increased capability of the Afghans as they take matters into their own hands.

Previously Afghan officials would seek help from the U.S. to help fix problems like this; today officials like the Cadastre go to Afghan officials for assistance. Construction of the Cadastre building is projected to be complete in early summer.

Cadastre rebuilding under way

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