Government decides to suspend post-flood search and rescue operations except for emergencies
The 21st meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, has decided to suspend the search and rescue phase following the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood, except for emergencies. The meeting also decided to recommend a budget of NPR 5 trillion 59 billion 17 million 27 thousand for approval to the Ministry of Finance for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Kathmandu. The government has decided to suspend the search and rescue phase following the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood for now, except for emergencies.
The decision was made at the 21st meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, held today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The meeting also decided to instruct the concerned agencies to expedite reconstruction and rehabilitation work alongside essential search operations.
The decision was based on recommendations from the District Security Committee, District Disaster Management Committee, the Executive Committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and on-site observations.
Similarly, the meeting decided to send a recommendation to the Ministry of Finance for approval of a budget of NPR 5 trillion 59 billion 17 million 27 thousand for 504 plans and programs received from various ministries and agencies for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected areas. The resources for these approved plans will be managed through the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility Regulations, 2077.
Likewise, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been instructed to recommend to the Ministry of Finance for necessary budget arrangements after receiving details of projects whose cost estimates are not yet disclosed and are yet to be prioritized.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Shah stated that disaster management work is being carried out in coordination among the federal, provincial, and local governments, and that reconstruction and rehabilitation work will now proceed in the same manner. He informed that the opposition party, including the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress, and the chief ministers of Bagmati, Gandaki, Madhesh, and Koshi provinces have extended their full support to this effort.