KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the agency responsible for coordinating security forces, technical experts and other stakeholders during disasters, has lacked adequate equipment and specialized experts.
The shortage of in-house expertise means the authority has to depend on outside agencies for equipment, technical resources and specialists during major disasters. This is not a new problem. The authority has not been able to deploy dedicated experts during previous disasters either.
The government has now sought specialists and equipment from India and China for search and rescue operations following the Bhotekoshi flood. Experts and technicians from the two countries have been involved since Saturday in efforts to locate and rescue people believed to be trapped inside tunnels following the disaster.
A year ago, the authority had just one expert on its staff. Geologist Gangalal Tuladhar was appointed as an expert, but his tenure ended a year ago. “For the past year, the authority has not had a single expert,” said Sushil Kumar Shrestha, senior divisional engineer at the authority.
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The authority has been allocated Rs 200 million for the current fiscal year 2083/84. However, an employee said the allocation was inadequate. “The budget is insufficient. It is largely spent on staff salaries and routine programs,” the employee said.
Shrestha, however, said the authority was continuing to perform its responsibilities. “All work is currently being carried out from the authority’s office. The home minister and secretaries have been visiting, and regular operations are continuing from here,” he said.
Former administrators argue that the authority has not been given the resources and powers necessary to perform effectively during disasters.
Former chief secretary Eknarayan Aryal said search and rescue operations could become more effective if the authority played a stronger coordinating role among local governments, provincial governments and the federal government.
An expert said Nepal faces significant risks from floods, landslides and earthquakes and that the authority needs adequate resources, stronger powers and relevant specialists.
The authority operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and was established under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017. The law designates it as the central resource agency for disaster management. Its responsibilities include conducting research on flood and landslide risks, earthquakes, climate change, land use and other potential causes of disasters, as well as developing mitigation measures.
The authority is also responsible for providing technical and financial assistance to provincial and local governments, coordinating disaster response among government agencies, involving NGOs, the private sector and local communities, and developing search and rescue teams.
Its mandate further includes managing national and international humanitarian assistance received after disasters, maintaining records of international and bilateral aid, developing a national disaster management information system, and collecting, analyzing, storing and disseminating disaster related data.
A Disaster Management Council chaired by the prime minister oversees the authority, while an executive committee is headed by the home minister. The council includes federal ministers, provincial chief ministers and the vice chairman of the National Planning Commission, among others.
The executive committee includes secretaries from relevant ministries. The authority has a chief executive selected through open competition. Dr Dharmaraj Upreti currently serves as its chief executive. The authority has 40 employees.
