KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress president and main opposition leader Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for a serious review of the natural disasters and damage to physical infrastructure that Nepal has experienced in recent times.
Speaking at a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee at its Sanepa-based central office on Sunday, Thapa said rescue operations should remain the immediate priority, but the weaknesses exposed by the disasters should later be subject to an impartial debate in Parliament and among the public.
He said disaster risk reduction and rescue operations in hydropower projects and tunnels being constructed across Nepal have emerged as major challenges during emergencies.
Thapa urged the government and concerned agencies to ensure disaster preparedness, adequate rescue equipment and access to new technical knowledge from the infrastructure design and construction stages themselves.
He also expressed the Nepali Congress’ full support for the government and citizens affected by the disaster during the difficult situation.
Thapa said serving citizens affected by the natural disaster should currently take precedence over the party’s internal organizational activities and political dialogue.
He described the party’s general convention and internal discussions as regular processes, saying public service should take priority over political calculations during the current crisis.
Thapa suggested that Prime Minister Balendra Shah present Nepal’s case at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly with facts, evidence and scientific claims.
Citing disasters such as the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, he stressed that Nepal should present scientific evidence of the damage it has suffered despite having a low contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Thapa said Nepal could establish its concerns internationally and achieve concrete outcomes only by preparing thoroughly in consultation with skilled professionals and experts from within and outside the country.
Meanwhile, Thapa proposed postponing the ward-level conventions in districts severely affected by the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods, saying conditions were not currently suitable for holding them.
He said rescue and relief efforts should take precedence over political activities in flood-affected districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. The Nepali Congress had previously published an election schedule setting Bhadra 24 as the date for ward-level conventions.
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