Far-Western Nepal Approves Disaster Management Plans

Kanchanpur. The Far-Western Province Disaster Management Council has approved two action plans prepared with the objective of making disaster management more effective. The meeting held today in Dhangadhi under the chairmanship of Chief Minister and Council Chairman Kamal Bahadur Shah approved the 'Monsoon Preparedness and Response Provincial Action Plan-2077 (Fifth Amendment-2083)' and the 'Multi-Hazard Early Warning Strategic Action Plan (2025-2030)'. With the approval of the action plans, it is believed that it will be easier to effectively perform in the areas of inter-agency coordination, role fulfillment according to responsibility, resource management, and multi-hazard early warning for monsoon preparedness and response in the province. Along with this, the meeting has also reached an understanding to operate in a coordinated manner for risk reduction, response to monsoon-induced disasters, and to fulfill sectoral responsibilities. Council Chairman Shah directed the concerned bodies to be ready for disaster response in a way that no questions are raised about the government and responsible bodies. He emphasized that the three tiers of government and development partners active in the field of disaster should work together, and urged them to be prepared to make the best use of limited resources. “Security agencies and our other mechanisms have also identified risk-prone areas. Let's prioritize those and be ready for disaster response,” said Chief Minister Shah. “Our preparation and capability will be visible during disasters. Therefore, let's work effectively together so that no questions are raised about our role. The provincial government is ready to provide all necessary facilitation as the provincial government and leadership. You all should also be fully prepared.” In the meeting, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) Provincial Assembly Parliamentary Party, Khagraj Bhatta, emphasized the need to formulate response plans according to the changing nature of disasters due to the impact of climate change. He stated that everyone needs to work together to deal with the multi-dimensional nature of disasters, along with policy, structural, and procedural facilitation. Leader Bhatta expressed the view that effective roles of all three tiers of government are necessary to address the disaster risk in the Far-Western Province, which is at risk not only due to its internal geography but also its trans-border location. In the meeting, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Surendra Bahadur Pal, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hira Sarki, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Bir Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Economic Affairs Bikram Singh Dhami, Minister for Social Development Bel Bahadur Rana, Chief Secretary of the Province Baikuntha Prasad Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law Tej Prakash Joshi, among others, expressed their views on disaster, its prevention, and other related topics. Similarly, the Provincial Chief of Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General Sanu Ram Bhattarai, and the Chief of the Armed Police Force Nepal No. 7 Baidyanath Bahini, Deputy Inspector General Digbijay Subedi, among others, provided information about security preparedness and necessary arrangements. The Provincial President of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Dil Bahadur Buda, the Chief of the United Nations Development Programme, Field Office Far-Western, Baijayanti Singh Giri, the Executive Director of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Far-Western Regional Office, Jyoti Bhattal, among others, stated that they are with the government in preparing for disaster response and providing rescue and relief during disasters. Topics Covered by the Approved Action Plan The approved monsoon preparedness action plan includes clear division of work related to forecasting potential risks seen during the rainy season such as floods, landslides, inundation, erosion, and road blockages, risk reduction measures, and search and rescue, relief distribution, and rehabilitation during disasters. The action plan also specifies how each body will be mobilized in an emergency. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Pavitra Kumari Puri, informed that the action plan was based on the subjects specified by the 'Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2074', 'Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Rules, 2076', 'National Disaster Response Framework, 2070', 'Provincial Disaster Management Plan-2077', 'Provincial Disaster Response Framework 2080', 'Guidelines for Developing Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan, 2076', and 'Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2076'. She also gave a presentation on this. Similarly, the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Strategic Action Plan (2025-2030) emphasizes the development and expansion of an effective early warning system across the province. Chief Engineer of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Attariya, Sanjay Kumar Shah, stated that the goal is to reduce risks through human-centered forecasting, strengthening communication mechanisms, and using modern technology, considering the increasing disaster risks due to climate change. Presenting the disaster situation in the Far-Western region, he expressed the view that with the approval of both action plans, it will be easier to work more effectively in the field of disaster response in the province.