KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to leave no stone unturned in providing relief to the earthquake-affected people and carrying out the reconstruction of damaged structures in an efficient way, while stating that these tasks are the first priority of the government.

In a meeting of the Development Committee of Legislature-Parliament on Sunday, the Prime Minister said the government already allocated Rs 5.5 billion to the disaster survivors to buy warm clothes in winter and remaining Rs 500 million would be released by Monday evening.

The concerned authorities have already been instructed to release additional relief amount to the mountainous and high hilly areas, he said, adding the amount would reach there within the next few days.

According to Prime Minister Oli, he had summoned senior officials of the Home Ministry, Defence Ministry, Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force today and directed them to activate all mechanisms available in the relief distribution task.

Likewise, the government has planned to begin the construction of 50 big communities and residential buildings in the mountainous and high hilly areas soon.

The government has sent medical teams to high-lands areas in the mountainous and hilly districts hit by snowfall and made arrangements for food supply there, he said.

Oli also claimed that the government has a sufficient stock of foodstuffs and no place would face food scarcity despite ongoing obstructions in the import via the southern border points.

Insisting on the use of locally available resources in the construction of earthquake-resistant shelters, the Prime Minister vowed to distribute Rs 200,000 to those rendered homeless by the disaster to construct the shelter at the earliest.

The government had earlier announced the financial assistance of up to Rs 200,000 to those who became homeless in the disaster.

Stating that the formation of the National Reconstruction Authority was delayed due to various political and other reasons, PM Oli said the reconstruction works, however, would go ahead on a full-swing. The Prime Minister also warned of taking action against those government bodies found failing to fulfill assigned responsibilities in course of the reconstruction process.