KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has directed the government to ensure that funds collected in the Relief and Rescue Fund are released immediately to local governments affected by the devastating floods.
Speaking at a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Monday on post-flood reconstruction and the supply of essential goods, Wagle instructed officials not to allow unnecessary administrative procedures to delay the release of relief funds.
He directed the Chief Secretary to prioritise four of the 16 affected local governments as the most urgent cases and immediately allocate the necessary budget to them.
Wagle said the money deposited into the government fund by people in response to the disaster had been provided in trust and must be used fully and effectively for the affected communities.
He said the government would discuss whether to establish a separate reconstruction authority, similar to the one formed after the 2015 earthquake, or divide responsibilities among existing government agencies.
Wagle also said the government would coordinate with the Ministry of Law to determine whether existing legislation needs to be amended or a new law introduced for post-disaster reconstruction.
He said recovery plans would be developed based on a post-disaster needs assessment, adding that the government would remain flexible in addressing the immediate and genuine needs of affected people.
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