Rs 1 billion to be deposited in PM Relief Fund

KATHMANDU, April 28: The government is to deposit Rs 1 billion in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund for rescue and relief and resettlement of the victims of Saturday's quake. This is in an attempt to carry out the rescue and relief operations more efficiently and effectively.

A decision to this end was taken by an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. The meeting also reached a decision to deposit one month's salary of the Prime Minister and the ministers in the fund.

The cabinet has decided to bar government officials from any foreign trip at this hour as their presence and support was required for rescue and relief operations.

The Council of Ministers has also issued a directive to the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate the victims of the quake residing in the open spaces and along the roadside. The Home Ministry has also been directed to arrange security mechanism for those living under tents in public places.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers has also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to brace to curb the potential outbreak of epidemic in those temporary camps.

Also, in a bid to bring to the situation back to calm, today's meeting of Council of Ministers directed the concerned authorities to pay attention to the black marketers who could be on prowl given the crisis in the country. The meeting has directed the bank and financial institutions to resume normal business and transaction. Any institutions disobeying the directive shall be brought to book. RSS

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