Kathmandu. Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has provided Rs 150 million for the relief, rescue and rehabilitation of the people affected by the floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa.

The NRA handed over the cheque to the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund at a program organized at the Ministry of Finance today. Minister for Information and Communications Dr. In the presence of Bikram Timilsina, NRA Chairman Arjun Ghimire handed over a cheque of Rs 150 million to Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle.

The government and various agencies are in the process of mobilizing assistance for the rescue, relief distribution and rehabilitation of the affected people after the floods in the Bhotekoshi River caused a huge loss of life and property and physical infrastructure in Rasuwa and surrounding areas. In this connection, the NRA has decided to make institutional contribution in disaster management.

According to the NRA, the amount was deposited in the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund with the objective of providing immediate relief to the flood-affected people at this difficult time of disaster as well as to assist in the rehabilitation and disaster management of the affected areas.

The authority has also urged the telecommunication service providers to provide as much support as possible to manage the disaster caused by floods.

According to NRA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal, along with the institutional support, it has been decided to contribute financially from the employees and office bearers of the NRA. He said that it has been decided to contribute money from the salary of the employees and the salary of the office bearers and meeting allowance for the relief and necessary support of the citizens affected by the disaster.

According to the decision, the officers of the first class will contribute an amount equal to eight days of their initial pay scale. Similarly, it has been decided that the officers of the second class employees will contribute the salary equivalent to six days and the officer third class employees will contribute the salary equivalent to four days.

The assistant level employees will contribute two days’ salary and the non-ranking employees will contribute one day’s salary. Similarly, it has been decided that the chairman of the authority will contribute his salary equivalent to 10 days and two board meeting allowances. It has also been decided that the board members of the authority will contribute an amount equal to two days’ board meeting allowance for the disaster victims.

The government, security agencies, local levels, private sector and various organizations are providing assistance from their respective sectors for the rescue and relief of the people affected by the Bhotekoshi floods. The NTA has urged the service providers to provide necessary support in the operation of services and disaster management in the affected areas as the telecommunication sector is also an important sector to continue communication during the disaster.

The NTA has said that it has been giving priority to the restoration of telecommunication infrastructure and operation of service in the affected areas and to prevent communication services during the time of disaster.