Kathmandu:The Parliamentary Special Committee on Study and Monitoring of the Disaster in the Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors has emphasized the need for public disclosure of the details regarding funds received by the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. The committee is calling for transparency in the fund’s allocations and expenditures across affected wards and municipalities.
According to National News Agency RSS, during a meeting, the committee was briefed on the total amount deposited in the fund, its sources, and how much has been allocated and spent in the affected areas. Committee president Krishna Prasad Paudel requested detailed information on the relief and compensation provided to local levels and wards in disaster-affected districts from the fund.
In the meeting, Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, reported that Rs 18 billion 285 million 32 thousand 593 has been deposited into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Rescue Fund and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. He stated that the source-wise details of the deposited money would be extracted from the Excel report and shared.
Finance Secretary Dr. Ghanshyam Upadhyay informed the committee that Rs 242 million has been distributed to local levels in districts affected by the Bhotekoshi flood via NDRRMA. He noted that Rs 160 million, Rs 60 million, and Rs 22 million have been distributed for the Rasuwa and Bhotekoshi floods.
Further allocations include Rs 970 million for the Nepal Police, Rs 660 million for the Armed Police Force, and Rs 910 million for the Nepal Army, totaling Rs 2.54 billion. From this, Rs 260 million 535 thousand has been released for these institutions and prisons.
The National Planning Commission’s preliminary disaster damage assessment indicates damages and losses totaling Rs 408 billion 290 million. Secretary Upadhyay shared that the preliminary reconstruction estimate is Rs 723 billion 310 million, with the detailed PDNA nearing completion.
The government has decided to grant one million rupees to families of civil servants who died during disaster rescue and will cover treatment costs for injured civil servants. Relief for temporary housing up to six months will be provided to families displaced by the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods.
Dr. Upadhyay also mentioned relief measures for flood-affected businesses, including concessions on taxes, insurance, loans, and interest. Projects worth Rs 225 billion 770 million 800 thousand have been approved by the Disaster Council for reconstruction. The process of proposal submission to the Ministry of Finance is underway, with procurement to commence upon receipt of correspondence.
Secretary Upadhyay concluded that regular government budgets and resource management through relevant ministries will be utilized for reconstruction, while the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund will focus on immediate relief and rescue efforts.