MPs on holiday while citizens face catastrophe: A shocking abdication of duty

Kathmandu, October 2 — While the public suffers from natural disasters, Parliament remains closed. Parliamentary committees have also been unable to convene meetings due to lack of quorum.

Continuous rainfall and resulting floods and landslides have claimed the lives of 232 people, with many missing and injured. The sensitive time of disaster has arrived after the conclusion of Parliament's budget session. In such situations, mini-parliaments, or parliamentary committees, should be active.

Instead, during this disaster, lawmakers seem to be in a “festive mood.” With the end of the parliamentary session coinciding with the festival season, many MPs have traveled to their districts and are not in a hurry to return to Kathmandu.

An MP commented, “Only if forced will we come back. Otherwise, there’s nothing to do. The festival season is approaching. We’ve only just arrived in the districts.”

The lack of engagement from MPs and parliamentary committees during the disaster has overshadowed the pain and issues faced by the public. This is concerning, as MPs are the official representatives advocating for the people's interests. Particularly during natural disasters, committees such as the Infrastructure Committee, International Relations and Tourism Committee, State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee, and the Agriculture Committee should be active. Among these, only the State Affairs and Agriculture Committees have held meetings to communicate the people's suffering to the government.

These committees have directed the government to work for the people's benefit, ensure relief measures, and create a conducive environment for celebrating festivals. However, other committees have not been able to convene meetings, citing lack of quorum, remaining silent instead.

The floods and landslides have severely damaged the road network. As the festival approaches, a large number of people wish to leave the Kathmandu Valley to return home. Routes such as Tribhuvan Highway, BP Highway, and Kanti Lokpath have become difficult for vehicular movement due to the floods and landslides. Millions of people are in a situation where they cannot return home for the festivals. In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the Infrastructure Development Committee to call for discussions with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The committee was supposed to engage in dialogue with the government and related transport stakeholders. However, it has been unable to hold a meeting.

The chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, Deepak Singh, has expressed frustration that despite preparing to convey the people's pain and direct the government toward solutions, the lack of quorum has prevented a meeting. He mentioned he wanted to hold a meeting before the floods and landslides occurred. However, he noted that MPs from the ruling parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, are not present in the valley, making it difficult to convene.

“My committee secretary contacts all honorable members once a day. Yet, there is no possibility of reaching quorum for a meeting,” Singh told Ratopati. “As the committee chairperson, I have sent letters to the relevant ministries and bodies requesting them to create a conducive environment for people to return home. However, we haven’t been able to convene a meeting for discussion.”

The Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee has also failed to hold meetings to make the government accountable. The committee is responsible for controlling black market practices, especially during the festival and disaster periods. It should have held discussions with industrialists, traders, and relevant ministries and agencies. Given the rising prices in the market under the pretext of a disaster, the committee has not focused on this issue. The chairperson of the committee, Abdul Khan, is currently in his constituency, and the whereabouts of other MPs are unknown to the committee.

According to sources from the committee secretariat, the chairperson is expected to return to Kathmandu by Thursday, after which discussions about holding a meeting will take place.

“Once the chairperson arrives, we will inquire where the honorable members are, and if quorum is reached, we will prepare to convene a meeting and provide directives,” the source said. “If quorum is not reached, we are prepared to send letters directing the government to control black market practices.”

Similarly, the International Relations and Tourism Committee has also been unable to convene discussions regarding air travel and fares with relevant ministries and stakeholders. Chairperson Rajkishor Yadav stated that the lack of quorum has hindered the meeting. 

“All honorable members have already left the valley. We are attempting to hold a meeting, but the lack of quorum remains an issue,” he said. “I have personally advised the tourism ministry and relevant bodies to stop arbitrary fare hikes.”

The Meteorological Forecasting Division had previously issued warnings of heavy rainfall. During such times, MPs should have brought this to the government's attention to mitigate potential disasters and damages. However, the government has failed to take effective action in response to the disaster that has already occurred. The committee should have immediately held a meeting post-disaster to urge the government to focus on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation. Parliamentary committees’ directives must be executed by the government under any circumstances. Yet, the committees have been excused from their duty to hold the government accountable, citing lack of quorum.

Despite prior warnings, the devastation from floods and landslides has caused havoc in the valley. Neighboring districts are facing similar circumstances. Many lives were lost when a bus was swept away in a river. Committees should have called on the government to clarify and direct rescue and relief efforts. Ironically, just as the government has faltered during this disaster, parliamentary committees have also failed to hold it accountable.