Opposition Parties Raise Concerns Over Monsoon Disaster Preparedness in National Assembly

Kathmandu. Opposition parties have registered a motion of urgent public importance in the National Assembly drawing the attention of the Home Minister to the government's preparedness for monsoon-induced disasters. The motion was proposed by Kamala Panta, leader of the Nepali Congress's National Assembly parliamentary party, and supported by Chief Whip Padam Bahadur Pariyar of the Congress, MP Somnath Poudel of CPN-UML, Chief Whip Madankumari Shah of the Communist Party of Nepal, and MP Pooja Chaudhary of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal.

The motion highlights that with the onset of the monsoon, the risk of floods, landslides, inundation, lightning, and glacial lake outburst floods is increasing across the country, and it seeks a clear explanation from the Home Minister regarding the government's inadequate preparedness.

The proposal mentions that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority's 'Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan-2083' estimates that 226,661 citizens from 51,868 households across the country could be affected by monsoon-induced disasters this year. It states that due to rising temperatures and increasing risks of flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods, effective preparedness is necessary in a timely manner.

The proposal notes that in the past decade, 3,074 people have lost their lives and 502 have gone missing due to floods, landslides, heavy rainfall, and lightning. It also presents data showing 4,769 injuries and 33,198 families affected.

It is stated that from Saun 2082 to Asar 2083, approximately 7,500 disaster incidents occurred, resulting in the deaths of 140 people, injuries to about 1,900, with 36 still missing and 14,000 families affected.

The proposal expresses concern that the government only focuses on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation after disasters occur each year. It states, 'Despite experiencing such significant human and physical losses, the recurring old pattern of focusing on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation only after the disaster strikes is a matter of serious concern.' It further adds, 'Transforming available forecasts into timely actionable decisions, relocating citizens from high-risk settlements to safe places, and proactively managing necessary manpower, equipment, food, medicine, and temporary shelters have not yet been effectively implemented.'

The example of the floods and landslides in Ashwin 2081 is also cited. It is mentioned that although the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issued advance warnings for 56 districts, preparedness was not adequate, citizens were not evacuated from high-risk areas in a timely manner, and significant losses were incurred.

The proposal states, 'This incident shows that having forecasts is not enough; a clear operating procedure is necessary, specifying which agency will take what steps and within what timeframe after receiving the information.'

Questions have also been raised about the safety of persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, pregnant women, indigenous communities, and citizens living in high-risk areas. The proposal notes that the government has not publicly disclosed a clear plan for their rescue, rehabilitation, and accessible early warning systems.

It is also claimed that effective coordination between the federal, provincial, and local levels has been lacking. It is mentioned that an integrated command system has not been effectively operationalized among the District Administration Offices, security agencies, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the Department of Roads, health institutions, and local disaster management committees.

The proposal also identifies high-risk roads and areas. Questions have been raised about the government's preparedness for the Kavre-Sindhuli section of the BP Highway, the Narayangadh-Muglin section of the Prithvi Highway, the Karnali Highway, the Siddhababa section of the Siddhartha Highway, the Daunne section of the East-West Highway, the Naubise-Kathmandu section of the Tribhuvan Highway, flood-affected areas in the Terai-Madhes, and the remote hilly roads of Karnali and Sudurpaschim.

The motion of attention also raises the issue of the leadership vacancy at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The proposal states, 'At a time when the country is at high risk of monsoon-induced disasters, leaving the central body for disaster management without clear and full-time leadership not only raises serious questions about policy formulation, inter-agency coordination, information flow, and response capacity but also indicates that the government is not sensitive and prepared to reduce the loss of life and property caused by disasters.'

The proposal demands that the government inform the parliament about its preparations for monsoon-induced disaster management. Through the motion of attention, it is demanded that the implementation status of the Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan-2083 be made public. Information about the preparedness of high-risk districts and settlements is to be provided. Clarity is sought regarding rescue manpower, equipment, relief supplies, and the relief fund.

Similarly, the government is also asked to provide information on coordination between federal, provincial, and local levels, the solution to the leadership vacancy at the Authority, the effectiveness of the disaster early warning system, and alternative mechanisms for delivering information to citizens in remote areas.

Furthermore, the proposal demands that the National Assembly be provided with detailed information about the government's preparations for post-disaster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation, as well as the necessary advance preparations and coordination for the immediate safety of high-risk and vulnerable areas and communities.

6 Points of Attention

1. What is the current implementation status of the Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan-2083, the prioritization and details of high-risk districts and settlements, and the availability and preparedness of rescue manpower and equipment?

2. What measures has the government adopted regarding coordination and command structure among local, provincial, and federal levels, the solution to the leadership vacancy at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and effective management?

3. Although a system has been put in place to send free SMS early warnings for disasters such as floods, landslides, lightning, and storms via the 1155 shortcode to service users in high-risk areas between the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and Nepal Telecom, what is the implementation, accessibility, geographical availability, timeliness, and effectiveness of this system, and what steps has the government taken so far to address it?

4. Are the essential rescue materials ready for various mechanisms, rescue teams, security agencies, and community-level rescuers who need to be on standby to assist in rescue operations during disasters? What is the status of the necessary budget and relief fund required for rescue?

5. What alternative arrangements and mechanisms has the government put in place to deliver information in an accessible format in a timely manner to remote areas with weak mobile networks, citizens without phones, communities using only mother tongue and local languages, the elderly, and persons with disabilities?

6. Preparations for post-disaster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation, and necessary advance preparations and coordination for the immediate safety of high-risk and vulnerable areas and communities.