Kathmandu, September 24

A disaster risk mitigation and prevention bill that the government has registered in the Parliament focuses on all aspects of disaster management – prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

If enacted into law, the bill will be a major departure from the current legal instruments that are mainly response-centric.

The government brought the bill after many stakeholders criticised the government for not creating enough mechanisms to deal with many aspects of disaster management, mainly prevention, preparedness, mitigation, recovery and reconstruction.

Main proposals

• A fund should be set up for disaster management
• Disaster management curriculum should be introduced in schools, as well as universities
• Those living in disaster prone areas should be relocated
• There should be a flying squad at the centre that can be mobilised immediately in case disaster strikes
• Fire engine officers, with the permission of local disaster management committees, should be allowed to enter any place and use any  individual or organisation’s resources in case disaster strikes
• If any individual or organisation does things recklessly causing disasters, the guilty should be slapped a fine not  exceeding Rs 5 lakh or a jail sentence not exceeding two years or both
• Individuals or orgnisations collecting donation or relief materials in the name  of disaster, distributing collected materials on their own or using such assistance for their benefit should be fined up to Rs 1 lakh or a jail sentence not exceeding six months, or both
• Anyone spreading rumours of disaster, creating artificial shortage of commodities in  times of disaster or selling substandard goods should be slapped a fine  not exceeding Rs 1 lakh or a jail sentence up to six months

The bill proposes that the local disaster management committees handle the most effective components of disaster management, such as installing warning system, mobilising volunteers in the relief and rescue operation, keeping fire engines on standby and providing training to volunteers and government employees.

The bill proposes a Disaster Risk Mitigation and Management National Council led by the prime minister, an Executive Committee led by the home minister, disaster management committees led by chief ministers in all provinces and mechanisms led by chief district officers in districts.  At the lowest tier there will be disaster management committee at the local levels led by chiefs of local levels.

The higher level mechanisms will mainly deal with formulating policy and programmes of disaster management, while the local levels will deal with the implementation aspects.

Five-tier mechanism

• A Disaster Risk Mitigation and Management National Council led by the prime minister
• An Executive Committee led by the home minister
• Disaster management committees led by chief ministers in all provinces
• Disaster management committees led by chief district officers in districts
• Disaster management committee at the local levels led by chiefs of local levels