Parliamentary committee urges relocation of settlements at risk along rivers
Summary
A National Assembly special committee has urged relocating riverside settlements at high risk from floods and other disasters. It also wants more scientific early warning systems and a broader long-term roadmap for disaster preparedness, rescue, reconstruction and resettlement.
Key Points
- Krishna Prasad Poudel said disaster risks along riverbanks cannot be reduced unless vulnerable settlements are moved to safer locations.
- The committee said awareness campaigns alone are not enough and called for relocation measures to be built into government policies and programmes.
- Members revised the committee’s terms of reference to include risk assessment, early warning, rescue, relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and safer reconstruction.
- The special committee was formed after the Bhotekoshi flood and related rain disasters damaged lives, infrastructure and livelihoods along several corridors.