Kathmandu, Sept 18: In a meeting of the National Assembly (NA) today, Nepali Congress (NC) Chief Whip Kamala Panta has stressed the need to strengthen the disaster preparedness and pre-warning system to make potential losses from increasing risks in mountains, glacier lakes, river systems and human settlements from climate change.
In the session, Panta said mountains do not just adorn the beauty of Nepal, instead they serve as a major source for waters and any changes in mountains have its direct implications in agriculture, drinking water, hydropower and biological systems and in the livelihood of people residing in the low-lying areas.
Stating that women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are more vulnerable to disaster, she called for prioritising safety and needs of such communities.
As she said, the culture of identifying potential risks and mitigating the risk be prioritised over the culture of focusing on post-disaster response
The leader further advised the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology to further enhance the capacity of its systems. She stressed the need to ensure citizens’ access to climate pre-warning system including the use of radios where people have no access to mobile and smart phones.
The NC Chief Whip for assessing risks for school, health institutions and communities established in areas vulnerable to floods and coming up with clear criteria whether establishment of settlements in vulnerable zones is allowed or not. She also demanded the government to establish a research and monitoring centre relating to the mountain climate change and glacier lakes.
Meanwhile, speaking in a zero hour of the session, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma called for the formation of a judicial committee to investigate cases of arsons at the Supreme Court (SC).
Puja Chaudhary expressed her concerns over the release of accused in the murder of three-year-old Garima Chaudhary of Bara on general date.
Rukmini Koirala demanded investigation into the alleged murder of Unimaya BK of Binayi Tribeni rural municipality-3 in Nawalparasi by her spouse on the day of Haritalika Teej on September 14.
Shree Krishna Prasad Adhikari called on the government to ensure the supply of daily essentials, medicines and other necessities to flood-affected Aamachhodingo and Gosaikunda rural municipalities and restore the roadway connectivity in the affected areas.
