Kathmandu. Lawmakers have drawn the attention of the government to expedite the reconstruction of houses damaged by the earthquake and to be serious about the demands of the agitating doctors.

Lawmaker Dr Sunil Kumar Sharma drew the government’s attention through the Speaker to the impact of services of government hospitals across the country.

According to him, the out-patient (OPD) service has been closed due to the agitation announced by the Nepal Medical Association expressing dissatisfaction over the issue related to consumer housing. Urging the government to be serious about the demands of the agitating doctors, Lawmaker Dr Sharma also demanded to increase the number of doctors.

Dr Sharma said, “The law made under the Ministry of Industry and non-medical people will give the right to operate by giving examinations in the Medical Council and let the doctors decide whether the surgery of that doctor is right or not?” ’

Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Shakti Bahadur Basnet drew the attention of the government through the Speaker to expedite the reconstruction of houses damaged by the earthquake.

Lawmaker Basnet demanded safe restoration of the vulnerable settlements and protection of the lives of earthquake-affected people and dignified rehabilitation. He said that it is risky to live in these houses as the reconstruction is not practical.

“People of earthquake-affected districts, including Jajarkot, are living a risky life in temporary shelters. Floods, landslides and weather-related adversities have deepened their pain,” basnet said, urging them not to delay the reconstruction of the houses damaged by the earthquake. ’

Chandra Bahadur Bishwakarma of the Ruling Nepal Communist Party (UML) urged the government to focus on resolving the problems of the earthquake-affected people.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Rajendra KC said the geography and nature of Chobhar Galchi would not be allowed to change under any circumstances. He also expressed gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh’s reply that no work has been done on the issue of cutting the Bagmati drain in Chobhar.

“During discussions with Minister Singh and bagmati civilization and disaster management bodies, I got a reply that no such programme would be held. This should not happen in the future as well,” kc said.

Stating that Manjashree Galchi is a place of religious, historical and archaeological importance, he stressed the need to find ways to reduce the risk of inundation keeping in mind its conservation.