MPs chide govt unpreparedness to deal with disaster

KATHMANDU, July 2: Lawmakers fiercely criticized the government on Friday for failing to take necessary steps to minimize risks from landslides and floods during monsoon.

Speaking during special and zero hours at Parliament on Friday, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties drew the attention of the government about loss of lives and properties due to flooding and landslides in various parts of the country.

NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha, CPN (Maoist Center) Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey and other lawmakers from the ruling and the opposition parties demanded immediate relocation of human settlements from landslide prone areas in Gorkha and other districts that were ravaged by the last year's earthquake.

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A preliminary study carried out by National Reconstruction Authority has identified as many as 117 settlements in various districts as under the high risks of landslides and flooding and in immediate need of relocation.  

Lawmakers also criticized the government for failing to address the concerns of earthquake victims living in risky conductions.

NC leader Shrestha urged the government to take measures to protect lives and properties in Gorkha and other districts. Maoist Chief Whip Pandey demanded immediate relocation of 200 families from the village of Barpak and Laprak, the epicenter of last year's earthquake, to safer areas.

“Though we had demanded relocation of settlements at high risks of landslide and flood before monsoon, the government turned a deaf ear,” said Pandey.

NC lawmakers Jeevan Bahadur Shahi and Ram Krishna Yadav, CPN (Marxist Leninist) lawmaker Aaindra Sunder Nembang, Madhesi Peoples Right Forum Democratic lawmaker Subodh Pokhrel, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party lawmaker Prem Suwal also came down heavily on the government for its lack of preparedness on disaster risks.

Parliament's State Affairs Committee on Friday has decided to summon Home Minister Shakti Basnet and other concerned officials for the next meeting of the committee to explain the measures taken by the government to minimize disaster risks.