This has reference to the news story “Library day-2016 to be celebrated for a week” (THT, August 23, Page 3).

This year the Ministry of Education is celebrating the ninth library day with the slogan ‘Library for lifelong education.’ In Nepal, the reading habit of the common people has been increasing whether people prefer to go to library or not.

Most importantly, it is said that we meet the most extraordinary people in libraries who are devoted to knowledge and research work.

As a result, such people give meaningful messages and thoughts to our society as they are doing noble work in their lifetime.

During this Library Day the Ministry of Education should put emphasis on opening new libraries so that people can find time to read books on sundry subjects.

It is not surprising to say that one of the oldest libraries of Nepal, Keshar Library, has been providing its service outside the building since last year’s earthquake that also damaged a number of other libraries.

The government should leave no stone unturned to reconstruct them at the earliest. The Central Library at TU has also been under great pressure as a result of the earthquake.

Most of the books are still seen kept in the sacks and the library has not been able to provide services to students, teachers and researchers for want of repairmen to restore the damaged building.

Libraries are sources of information, knowledge and an abundant source for research. They should not be left unattended for a long time.

Saroj Wagle, Bara

Be prepared

Although the recent earthquake in Myanmar had no impact on Nepal one fact that can never be denied is that our country still falls in seismic zone.

The April 25 earthquake last year has already left behind its scars on Nepali psyche and thousands of earthquake victims are still waiting for government assistance to reconstruct their damaged houses in rural and urban areas.

One more earthquake is certain to strike the country at any time sooner or later. As a matter of fact, it’s the natural disaster which can neither be predicted nor guessed.

Even science has not found any clue about how information is gathered regarding the magnitude of earthquake likely to occur in any part of the world.

Hence time has come for the Nepal government to be fully prepared in order to tackle the situation that comes in the aftermath of any natural disaster.

For that to happen, the house owners who violate the national building code should not be provided with basic amenities such as electricity, water supply and communication facilities to be offered by the state mechanism.

There are some areas in the hilly districts where houses cannot be built for safety reasons. The people who are living in the vulnerable areas should be relocated and such areas must be planted with trees to protect them from further erosion and landslides.

The best way to deal with natural disasters like earthquake is to remain fully prepared for any kind of eventuality.

Pratik Shrestha, Baneshwor