Kathmandu. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the National Planning Commission (NPC) have held detailed discussions on the issues of post-disaster recovery, integrated development and making hydropower and infrastructure climate-resilient. A high-level meeting was held at the Ministry of Energy on Thursday to make the reconstruction work more safe, resilient and sustainable by addressing the damage caused by the floods in the Bhotekoshi River and the recent water-related disaster.

Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr. Gunakar Bhatta and Members, Chief Commissioner of the Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital, Secretary of the Ministry, Sarita Dawadi, Heads of Divisions, advisors to the ministers and the Secretariat team were present. During the discussions, an agreement was reached to prepare integrated frameworks for overall development by combining the technical expertise of the departmental ministries and the policy leadership of the National Planning Commission.

The meeting discussed the damage caused by water-induced disasters, efforts made so far for rescue and relief efforts and future strategy.

According to Sunil Poudel, chief of the Energy Division, the ministry will make its technical expertise fully available to the commission for the initial damage assessment and subsequent recovery plan. The ministry will facilitate in resolving the challenges seen in collecting damage data from the hydropower projects of the private sector and the process of forming a technical mapping committee of the river corridor by experts has been initiated in coordination with the secretariat of the Water and Energy Commission.

During the meeting, the National Planning Commission informed that it is preparing to go to the work area from next week by formulating a working procedure for the assessment of the damage. Member of the Planning Commission, Dr. Sudhan Jha stressed on the collection of basic scientific evidence, strengthening of early warning system, re-engineering of rehabilitation and standardization of data. He said that the infrastructure should be strengthened to ensure the continuity of trade and continuous supply chain.

Minister Shrestha’s advisory team reviewed the successes and failures of the integrated settlement development after the 2072 earthquake and suggested that a new plan should be prepared. The ministry has stressed that the rehabilitation plan should be prepared only after taking into account the damage caused to the local culture and taking direct consultation and consent with the local people.

During the discussion, Energy Minister Shrestha said that the future development strategy would be prepared for the budget and resource management accordingly as there would be additional cost to make the infrastructure including hydropower and roads climate-resilient. According to Minister Shrestha, the Ministry will provide technical support to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Planning Commission for the formulation of integrated development plan from the border areas in the north to the river corridor in the south.

The National Planning Commission will prepare an integrated framework to prevent duplication among government agencies, while the main responsibility of implementation will lie with the federal departmental ministries in coordination with the provincial and local levels. Minister Shrestha made it clear that the role of all in the revival plan will be clarified and work will be carried out with shared responsibility.

Minister Shrestha said that an integrated plan based on big projects and corridors will be prepared keeping in mind the risks that may increase in the future as the recent floods have affected hundreds of kilometers of downstream areas. He also said that the Investment Board, Hydropower Investment and Development Company and other related agencies will be mobilized in an integrated manner in the reconstruction plan.

“In case of rehabilitation and rehabilitation in vulnerable areas, the local community should be kept at the centre of the decision-making process. Rehabilitation and rehabilitation plans should be taken forward only after meaningful consultation with the local residents, respecting local needs, social relations, religious and cultural values, historical identity and the way of life of the community,” he said.

Minister Shrestha said that the concept of scientific energy mix would be implemented to ensure the basic energy supply of the country in any situation of disaster. He also said that a state-of-the-art early warning system would be established through the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.