KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is to form a committee headed by KMC mayor within a week for implementing its 'disaster management act'.

The 11-member committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya in a week's time from now, said KMC spokesperson Ishwarman Dongol.

The committee would comprise of KMC deputy mayor, chief administrative officer, the coordinators of thematic committees, representative of the district administration office, chief or representative of the federal security bodies based within the geographical area of the KMC, and chief or representative of the state police office as members.

Besides the above-mentioned members, the committee would also have chief of the metropolitan police, representative from the NGO Federation, a local representative of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), local representative of Nepal Red Cross Society, and a representative from the chamber of commerce and industry recognised by the private sector to be nominated by the KMC mayor.

The official assigned by KMC to look after disaster management would be the member-secretary of this committee. According to Spokesperson Dongol, KMC would also set up a separate fund for disaster management.

KMC's fourth town assembly passed the Disaster Management Act on April 7.

The Act was issued to minimise the damage caused by natural and non-natural disasters, to protect and preserve the cultural heritages, and to carry out disaster management works in an effective and coordinated manner during times of disasters.

The Act also provides for coordination in rescue works, relief distribution and other humanitarian assistance as well as for mobilisation of security bodies, the fire brigade and other service providers.