Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today visited the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, based in Babar Mahal, to review the meteorological forecasting and early warning systems implemented by the Department. During the visit, the Prime Minister inquired about the Department’s forecasting mechanism, information flow system, and the measures being taken to mitigate potential damage from above-average rainfall predicted for the upcoming monsoon season.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Prime Minister directed the Department to communicate meteorological forecasts in simpler, more accessible language that can be easily understood by the target groups. The head of the government instructed the Department to keep all its stations in a well-functioning condition and focus on mitigating potential damages in areas expected to receive more rain during this monsoon. He emphasized the need for collaboration among local levels, security bodies, and mass media to expedite measures aimed at reducing potential losses.
Department’s Director General Kamal Ram Joshi informed the Prime Minister that this year’s monsoon period will extend from June 1 to September 30, with above-average rains expected in the northern part of Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, as well as the eastern part of the Karnali province. He expressed his happiness over the first-ever visit by a Prime Minister to the Department with concerns over the deliveries of the Department. Joshi pledged to fully utilize the available resources to make the Department’s works effective.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, and Minister of State for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, Kham Bahadur Garbuja, along with senior government officials.