Govt. declares 'emergency areas' in flood-hit VDCs

In a bid to ease the relief and rehabilitation efforts, the government has declared 'emergency areas' in Saptakoshi floods-hit VDCs of the Sunsari district.

A cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet’s office in Singhadurbar on Thursday declared Western Kushaha, Shripur, Randeep Basantapur, Haripur Laukahi, Bokraha, Madhuban Narshing and Bhardaha VDCs ‘emergency areas’ to be effective from Thursday itself.

The Cabinet meeting formed Central Monitoring and Management Committee (CMMC) coordinated by Deputy Prime Minister to monitor the relief and rehabilitation works.

Taking decision to release Rs 500 million immediately, the cabinet meeting also decided to allocate Rs 2.5 billion for the relief and rehabilitation works of the people displaced by the Saptakoshi floods.

Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting has also decided to accept the assistance of Rs 6 billion proposed by the European Union.

The Home Ministry on Wednesday had submitted proposals on emergency declaration and relief operation to Office of Council of Ministers and Prime Minister's Office.

According to the article 3 of the Natural Calamity Act 2039 B.S., the government can declare any natural calamity-hit area as 'emergency area'. The Act allows the government to close down government, non-government, educational and other institutions and ban all activities that affect relief and rehabilitation work.

During the state of emergency in the areas, the government can utilise both movable and immovable public or private properties without any hitch for the purpose of relief and rehabilitationfor a specified period, among others.

According to the Home Ministry data, the government has provided temporary shelter for 27,378 persons belonging to 4,630 completely displaced families at 29 schools and public buildings in Inaruwa, district headquarters of Sunsari district.

Similarly, an additional 21,140 displaced of 3,260 families on the other side of the Sapatakoshi Barrage in Saptari district are living in four temporary camps set up by the government.