A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday evening decided to release one billion rupees for the Disaster Relief Fund as part of the government initiative to expedite the rescue and relief operation of the disaster-hit communities.
The Ministry of Finance would immediately provide Rs 1 billion to the Fund as per the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2074 BS.
Likewise, the cabinet decided to mourn nationwide and lower the national flag for three days in memory of hundreds of those killed in the floods, landslides, and inundation after the downpour occurred on September 27 and 28, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said.
Minister Gurung said that the government would accord top priority to the search, relief, and immediate relief operations as well as provide free treatment and temporary settlement and security arrangements for the displaced families.
Likewise, the government would make arrangements for the treatment of seriously injured people in the disaster.
As decided by the cabinet meeting, the concerned ministries would immediately submit the estimated loss and damage caused by the disasters to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Similarly, drinking water, bridges, roads, telecommunications service, power supply, and other essential services would be restored.
The federal ministries would coordinate with the province's ministries and local government for required measures to control the spread of infectious diseases and to shift the vulnerable communities to safer areas, Minister Gurung said. To conduct the tasks, the private sector would also be brought on board.
The government has also decided to operate public transport in an easy and organized manner targeting the upcoming festivals and will work to prevent artificial shortages and black-marketing.
He shared that it has been decided to form and mobilize a team to carry out an on-site study on issues such as relief and rescue of disaster-affected households. The team will include representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the study will be carried out in the most affected districts in coordination with the relevant sides from the province and local levels.
The meeting also decided to deposit one month's salary of every member of the Council of Ministers for immediate relief and rescue in the disaster survivors' relief fund. The meeting extended condolences to the bereaved families while paying tributes to those who died due to floods and landslides across the country. The meeting also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
It may be noted that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned home on Monday after attending the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations. He called a meeting of the Council of Ministers immediately after his return to the country.
