Kathmandu, April 12

The fourth municipal assembly of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has endorsed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill.

The bill was passed after a clause-wise discussion. In its report, KMC stated that the law would help prepare disaster prevention and management plan.

With the passage of the bill, KMC will now be able to deal with disaster response and recovery effectively without any legal hurdles. With the enactment of this law, KMC will carry out response and recovery operations in coordination with the federal, provincial and district disaster management committees.

The bill stipulates a provision for Metropolitan Disaster Management Committee led by KMC mayor. Deputy mayor, chief administrative officer, coordinator of thematic committees, representatives from district administration office and officials from Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will be the members of the committee. One of the major tasks of the committee will be to formulate metropolitan disaster management polices and plan.

The committee will also conduct disaster risk assessment of public infrastructure. The committee will have a major role in identifying appropriate places for relocation of disaster victims and in forming inclusive disaster preparedness and response committees at the ward or community level.

Moreover, the committee is required to take initiative to incorporate disaster management into school curricula, conduct disaster response drills and exercises and establish an emergency operation centre.

The law empowers the metropolis to operate disaster management information system and early warning system and make arrangements for immediate rescue and relief work in disaster-hit areas.