Kathmandu [Nepal], October 29 – A parliamentary committee in Nepal has called for detailed public disclosure of funds received and expenditures made through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and Relief Fund following disasters in the Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors.
The Parliamentary Special Committee on Study and Monitoring of the Disasters discussed fund deposits, sources of contributions, allocations and expenditures during a meeting on Thursday. Committee Chair Krishna Prasad Paudel also sought details of relief and compensation distributed to affected municipalities and wards.
Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, informed the meeting that a total of Rs 18.285 billion had been deposited in the two funds. He said source-wise details of the contributions would be extracted from bank records and provided to the committee.
Finance Secretary Dr Ghanshyam Upadhyay said Rs 242 million had been provided to local governments in districts affected by the Bhotekoshi floods through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
He said Rs 2.54 billion had been approved for disaster-related allocations to the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army while Rs 260.535 million had been released to security agencies and prisons.
According to the National Planning Commission’s preliminary assessment, the disasters caused damage and losses worth Rs 408.29 billion. Reconstruction requirements are estimated at Rs 723.31 billion with a detailed Post-Disaster Needs Assessment nearing completion.
The government has also decided to provide Rs 1 million to the dependent families of civil servants who died during rescue operations and cover medical expenses for injured employees. Temporary housing assistance will be provided for up to six months to families displaced by the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods.
