KATHMANDU: Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has emphasized the importance of conducting geological studies before developing human settlements and infrastructure.
During a meeting where he received a report from the party’s Natural Disaster Management Department, the former prime minister reiterated his long-standing advocacy for well-planned settlements and infrastructure, a stance he has held since his first term in office.
The report, prepared with expert input after visits to disaster-affected areas, highlights the vulnerability of hilly regions to landslides, as well as the risks of flooding and inundation in the Tarai and urban areas due to unmanaged settlements and inadequate infrastructure.
Prachanda stressed that all development should be grounded in geological assessments to mitigate risks associated with landslides, flooding, earthquakes, and other disasters.
He praised the Natural Disaster Management Department for its work and announced plans to submit a memorandum to the government based on the report’s findings.
He also called for the creation of effective disaster response plans that prioritize scientific approaches to settlement and infrastructure development.
Additionally, he urged state mechanisms to operate more effectively, reviewing the reasons behind delays in immediate rescue operations.
Prachanda insisted that the government must mobilize all available resources, as current rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts are falling short of public expectations.
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