National Assembly forms special committee to study disasters

Kathmandu, Oct 1: A meeting of the upper house of federal parliament, National Assembly, today formed a nine-member special committee to study the damages caused by the disasters on Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors and recommend measures for long-term risk reduction.

In the meeting, chairman of the National Assembly, Narayan Prasad Dahal, informed lawmakers that a parliamentary special committee was formed to conduct an inspection and study of the disasters occurred on Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors.

The study panel includes Krishna Prasad Poudel, Gita Devkota, Ghanashyam Rijal, Shreekrishna Prasad Adhikari, Samjhana Devkota, Somnath Portel, Puja Chaudhary and Tul Prasad Bishwakarma. One more member will be inducted to the committee later.

The study panel will review disaster preparedness, risk reduction, loss of lives and property, search for the missing ones and survivors, rescue, relief and compensation, treatment to the injured persons, management of dead bodies and rehabilitation campaigns. The committee has been further mandated to analyze the impact of climate change and recommend a roadmap for the rehabilitation of the displaced ones, reconstruction of physical infrastructures, risk reduction and climate justice.

The study panel will also suggest the necessary mechanisms for the development and effective implementation of scientific and modern early warning systems and technologies. A scientific analysis of the causes, risks and long-term impacts of disasters would be carried out by holding adequate interaction with subject experts.

The points to the lawmakers for the study range from appropriate framework for cooperation with disaster-affected neighbouring countries for the exchange of experience, technology, information and resources so that cooperation would be bolstered in disaster risk reduction, rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. The issues of international system in relation to various countries’ roles in climate change and possible legal basis to claim compensation for losses are also in the list for study.

Geological, geographical and climate-related risks in terms of new settlements are equally relevant topics for the study panel. The parliamentary special committee has been given time till mid-January 2027.#rss