Parliamentarians questioned the government's inefficiencies in responding to recent disasters caused by torrential rainfall during a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. They expressed concern over the government's inadequate efforts in search, rescue, relief distribution, and rehabilitation following the devastating floods and landslides.
Many lawmakers urged the government to prioritize the rescue of citizens still stranded on roads and highways blocked by flooding and landslides. Parliamentarian Rabi Lamichhane criticized the government for its lack of leadership during the emergency, noting that key officials were abroad when the nation needed them most. He emphasized that, despite limited resources, strong willpower could significantly mitigate disaster risks.
Gagan Kumar Thapa called for unity among government entities, political parties, and citizens, criticizing the government's "all talk, no action" approach and its delays in decision-making. He stressed the need for immediate implementation of previous decisions without further meetings.
Chitra Bahadur KC condemned airlines for hiking prices during the crisis and questioned how such actions were allowed in a functioning government. Raghuji Panta stressed the need for enhanced disaster response capacity and suggested securing international assistance to rebuild damaged infrastructure. He also raised concerns about increased airfare during a time when road access was blocked.
Rajendra Pandey criticized the unregulated operation of vehicles on risky highways despite the government's travel advisories, while Prakash Adhikari questioned why citizens living near rivers had not been relocated earlier, given the advance warning of heavy rainfall.
Dilendra Prasad Badu highlighted the government's failure to halt vehicle operations on dangerous roads despite the alerts and suggested that local authorities be better equipped to handle disasters. Sarita Prasain pointed out that the government had failed to act on earlier directives despite having sufficient information about the impending disaster.
Buddhiman Tamang urged the government to remain vigilant in its disaster preparedness, especially given the forecast of additional weather changes. Sarbendra Nath Shukla criticized the government's lack of preparedness despite warnings of adverse weather conditions.
During the meeting, Punya Prasad Sitaula, Senior Vice-President of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, reported that hundreds of transport workers were stranded due to floods and landslides. He mentioned that 500 buses were stuck on the BP Highway, and 50 vehicles remained stranded in Chitlang, with no assistance from the government. -- RSS