HoR: Lawmakers draw govt attention to road safety, disaster preparedness

KATHMANDU: In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers raised concerns over road safety, disaster preparedness, agricultural inputs, inflation, and post-earthquake rehabilitation, drawing the government’s attention to urgent policy and implementation gaps.

During a special session, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Dr. Toshima Karki highlighted the alarming rate of road fatalities in Nepal, stating that on average eight Nepalis lose their lives daily in road accidents.

She noted that 24,095 people have died in road accidents over the past 10 years, calling the situation deeply concerning. MP Karki urged the government to expedite the long-pending Road Safety Bill and stressed the need to make road transport safer. She also demanded the implementation of an integrated trauma care policy in all seven provinces.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narsingh KC drew the government’s attention to disaster preparedness ahead of the upcoming monsoon season. He emphasized the need for proactive measures rather than reactive responses, urging better coordination among local, provincial, and federal governments for effective early warning system management.

From the opposition, CPN-UML MP Padma Aryal raised concerns over the acute shortage of chemical fertilizers during the peak planting season. She said farmers across the country are struggling to access fertilizers at a critical time, warning that delays could negatively impact future agricultural output.

MP Aryal also highlighted the worsening economic situation caused by inflation, stating that rising prices have severely affected households and urged the government to strengthen market monitoring and control inflation.

In another issue, MP Gopal Sharma drew attention to the slow progress in post-earthquake reconstruction in districts including Rukum West, Jajarkot, Doti, and Dailekh, which were affected by the 2080 BS earthquake. He criticized the government for delayed rehabilitation efforts and demanded immediate construction of housing for displaced families.