Government ready for disaster response: Minister Lekhak

Kathmandu, June 26: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said bearing in mind the potentiality of occurrence of disaster at any time during monsoon, the government is ready for disaster preparedness and response.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources today, the Minister said the government is aware of the potential for disasters such as floods, landslides, inundation, and road obstructions during the monsoon, and has put preparedness measures in place through security agencies. He added that helicopter rescue operations have been arranged for emergencies.

The province governments have been already given the authority to ensure effective rescue efforts through the emergency humanitarian assistance centers, he said, urging the local governments to expand such facilities to the local level as well.

Executive Officer of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s Executive Officer Engineer Dinesh Prasad Bhatta briefed the meeting about the disaster preparedness measures, underlining the role of locals in the rescue efforts.

Similarly, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Kamal Ram Joshi said above-average rainfall has been expected during this monsoon.

Committee President Kushum Devi Thapa urged the Ministry and bodies concerned to update the Committee about the disaster preparedness efforts and make sure that such measures will be more effective than of the past.

Committee members Bir Bahadur Balayar, Saraswoti Subba, Rupa Sosi Chaudhary, Bhanubhakta Joshi, Surya Prasad Dhakal, Anisha Nepali, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Samjhana Thapaliya, Amrit Lal Rajbanshi and Bijula Rayamajhi were among those present in the meeting.