Kathmandu. The government has decided to postpone the search and rescue phase after the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods for the time being, except for the most urgent.

The twenty-first meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Balendra Shah decided to direct the bodies concerned to speed up the reconstruction and rehabilitation works along with the urgent search.

The decision was taken based on the recommendations of the District Security Committee, the District Disaster Management Committee, the Executive Committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and an on-site inspection.

Likewise, the meeting decided to send a recommendation to the Ministry of Finance for approval of a budget of Rs 559.17 billion for 504 projects and programmes received from various ministries and agencies for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected areas.

Resources will be managed through the Ministry of Finance for these projects approved as per the Financial Procedures and Financial Responsibility Rules, 2077. Similarly, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been directed to recommend to the Ministry of Finance for the necessary budget arrangement after receiving the details of the projects whose cost estimates are yet to be disclosed and are yet to be prioritized.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Shah said that disaster management works were being carried out in coordination with the federal, provincial and local governments and the reconstruction and rehabilitation works would be carried out in the same manner. The leaders of the opposition parties, the parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress and the chief ministers of Bagmati, Gandaki, Madhes and Koshi provinces have extended their full support to this task.

The meeting expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property due to the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood and monsoon-induced disaster.

Likewise, the Council has extended its appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all the security personnel, people’s representatives, civil servants, private sector, volunteers, media persons and donor countries and development partners who are providing assistance in search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation during the difficult situation.