National Assembly members voice dissatisfaction over government's disaster management

Lawmakers at Monday's National Assembly meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the government's approach, accusing it of ineffective rescue and relief for flood and landslide victims.

Speaking during zero hour, they said the slogan of good governance was not visible in practice, and also raised the issue of delays in gas extraction in Dailekh.

Lawmaker Rajendra Laxmi Gairhe said roads in all local levels of Palpa have been blocked by rain since Asoj 8, with dozens of houses buried and bridges swept away by erosion from the Kaligandaki river. Lawmaker Samjhana Devkota said hundreds of families have been displaced in Manang, Mustang and along the Marsyangdi riverbanks.

Lawmaker Puja Chaudhary alleged that the relief distribution system was weak and demanded immediate solutions to the education, food and drinking water crises faced by victims. She also demanded a reconstruction plan be brought forward.

Lawmakers voiced concern over the shortage of cooking gas and urged that extraction of the confirmed methane gas reserve in Dailekh be advanced immediately. Lawmaker Bishnu Devi Pudasaini remarked that the inability to fill potholes on roads was a mockery of good governance. Lawmaker Rukmini Koirala drew the government's attention to repairing damaged roads to make travel safe ahead of the upcoming festivals.

Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Jayanti Devi Rai stressed that the government must coordinate with all three levels of government during disasters, and urged that all parties and stakeholder bodies also be brought on board. She also called for special attention to the safety of children, women and the elderly staying in relief camps.