Kathmandu, July 14

The parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee today directed the government to carry out search operation for persons who have been missing in incidents of floods and landslides following heavy downpour across the country for the past four days.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa, 25 people have been missing so far.

The panel also directed the government to provide treatment to those who have been injured in natural disasters. In the meeting, Home Minister Thapa assured that the government has been doing needful to save the lives of people. The panel also directed the government to provide relief materials for the victims of the disasters.

Lawmakers representing the ruling and opposition parties in the meeting said the government failed in its preparation to cope with natural disasters.

It was obvious that natural disasters would strike the country during monsoon, but the government was not serious.

Chair of the panel Shashi Shrestha said there have been landslides in the hills and flood incidents in the Tarai region.

“Serious question has been raised in terms of rescue and relief operation on part of the government. We demand an explanation from the ministry,” she said.

The government was carrying out rescue and relief work in coordination with security agencies, local representatives, UN agencies, local NGOs, local governments and provincial governments, said Minister Thapa.

Many countries in the world including Nepal have been prone to man-made disaster, according to Thapa.

“People have been exploiting the nature for profit. This has resulted in global warming, which has been a serious problem in the 21st century,” he said, adding that developed countries like the USA and Japan have also been suffering from natural disasters.

Unbridled development activities have resulted in landslides and floods in the case of Nepal. Roads have been constructed in hilly region without any technical studies and thus the fragile hills are prone to landslides.

People have also exploited Chure area inviting natural disasters, said Thapa.

Lawmaker of the ruling Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Jhapat Rawal, main opposition Nepali Congress lawmakers Dilendra Prasad Badu and Dila Sangraula, and lawmaker of Nepal’s Workers and Peasants’ Party Prem Suwal requested the government to solve flood related problems in areas bordering India through diplomatic channels.

Minister Thapa said people should not build houses near river banks.

Minister Thapa said the government lacked adequate resource such as boats, helicopters and heavy equipment to carry out prompt and effective search and rescue operation.