Govt directs local officials to remain in office amid rising monsoon disaster risks

KATHMANDU: The government has directed the heads of District Coordination Committees, local levels, and chief administrative officers to remain at their offices and carry out their responsibilities as incidents of floods, landslides and other monsoon-related disasters increase across the country.

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Poverty Alleviation, Federal Affairs and General Administration issued a circular on Monday, urging officials not to leave their workplaces during the sensitive period considering the growing risks and impacts of monsoon disasters.

The ministries instructed district coordination officers and chief administrative officers of all local levels to remain regularly present at their offices to ensure effective disaster management, rescue operations, relief distribution, coordination and delivery of essential services.

The circular stated that concerned officials must play an active role in decision-making, coordination and facilitation during emergencies. Officials and employees currently on leave have also been asked to shorten their leave and return to their respective offices as soon as possible.

The government has further directed officials to maintain regular communication with district administration offices, security agencies, provincial governments and federal agencies for information sharing, rescue and relief operations, damage assessment and necessary coordination.

According to the circular, officials needing to leave their offices under special circumstances must obtain prior approval from the concerned authority and ensure proper arrangements for their responsibilities before departure.

The ministries said the directive was issued to keep government mechanisms on high alert as continuous rainfall has increased the risks of floods, landslides and inundation in several parts of the country.

The government aims to ensure quick decision-making, effective rescue operations and timely relief distribution to provide better services to citizens during the ongoing monsoon disaster period.