INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, July 14
The parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee today directed the government to carry out search operation
for persons who have been missing in incidents of floods and landslides following heavy downpour across the country for the past four
days.
According to Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa, 25 people have been missing so far.
The panel also directed the government to
provide treatment to those who have been injured in natural disasters
In the meeting, Home Minister Thapa assured that the government has been doing needful to save the lives of people
The panel also directed the government to provide relief materials for the victims of the disasters.
Lawmakers representing the ruling and
opposition parties in the meeting said the government failed in its preparation to cope with natural disasters.
It was obvious that natural
disasters would strike the country during monsoon, but the government was not serious.
Chair of the panel Shashi Shrestha said there have
been landslides in the hills and flood incidents in the Tarai region.
&Serious question has been raised in terms of rescue and relief
operation on part of the government
We demand an explanation from the ministry,& she said.
The government was carrying out rescue and relief work in coordination with security
agencies, local representatives, UN agencies, local NGOs, local governments and provincial governments, said Minister Thapa.
Many countries
in the world including Nepal have been prone to man-made disaster, according to Thapa.
&People have been exploiting the nature for profit
This has resulted in global warming, which has been a serious problem in the 21st century,& he said, adding that developed countries like
the USA and Japan have also been suffering from natural disasters.
Unbridled development activities have resulted in landslides and floods
Roads have been constructed in hilly region without any technical studies and thus the fragile hills are prone to landslides.
People have
also exploited Chure area inviting natural disasters, said Thapa.
Lawmaker of the ruling Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Jhapat Rawal, main
opposition Nepali Congress lawmakers Dilendra Prasad Badu and Dila Sangraula, and lawmaker of Nepal Workers and Peasants& Party Prem Suwal
requested the government to solve flood related problems in areas bordering India through diplomatic channels.
Minister Thapa said people
should not build houses near river banks.
Minister Thapa said the government lacked adequate resource such as boats, helicopters and heavy
equipment to carry out prompt and effective search and rescue operation.
The post Govt directed to search for people missing in floods
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