Kathmandu. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the National Planning Commission (NPC) have held detailed discussions on post-disaster recovery, integrated development and making hydropower and infrastructure climate-resilient.
A high-level meeting was held at the Energy Ministry on Thursday to make the reconstruction work more safe, resilient and sustainable by addressing the damage caused by the flood in the Bhotekoshi River and the recent water-related disaster.
Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr. Gunakar Bhatta and members, Chief Commissioner of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital, Secretary of the Ministry Sarita Dawadi, Heads of Divisions, advisors to the ministers and the Secretariat team were present.
During the discussions, an agreement was reached to prepare integrated models of overall development construction by combining the technical expertise of the departmental ministries and the policy leadership of the National Planning Commission.
The meeting discussed the damage caused by water-induced disasters, efforts made so far for rescue and relief efforts and future strategy.
According to Sunil Poudel, chief of the Energy Division, the ministry will fully provide its technical expertise to the commission for the initial damage assessment and subsequent recovery plan.
The Ministry will facilitate in resolving the challenges seen in collecting the details of damage from the hydropower projects of the private sector and the process of forming a technical mapping and technical committee of the river corridor has been forwarded under the coordination of the Water and Energy Commission’s secretariat.
During the meeting, it was informed that the National Planning Commission has prepared a working procedure for the damage assessment and is preparing to go to the work area from next week. Member of the Planning Commission, Dr. Sudhan Jha stressed on the collection of scientific evidence, strengthening of early warning system, re-engineering of rehabilitation and standardization of data. He said that infrastructure should be strengthened to continue trade and supply chain.
Minister Shrestha’s advisory team had reviewed the successes and failures of integrated settlement development after the 2072 Earthquake and opined that a new plan should be made.
The Ministry has also stressed the need to formulate rehabilitation plans only after consulting and consulting with the local people keeping in mind the damage caused to the local culture.
On the occasion, Energy Minister Shrestha said that future development strategy would be made for budget and resource management accordingly as making infrastructures like hydropower and roads climate-resilient would incur additional costs.
According to Minister Shrestha, the Ministry would provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Planning Commission for the formulation of integrated development plan from the border areas in the north to the river corridor in the south.
The National Planning Commission will prepare an integrated framework to prevent duplication among government agencies, while the main responsibility of implementation will lie with the federal departmental ministries in coordination with the provincial and local levels. Minister Shrestha made it clear that the role of all in the Recovery Plan (PDNA) will be clarified and work will be carried out with shared responsibility.
Minister Shrestha said that large projects and corridor-based integrated plans would be formulated keeping in mind the risks that might increase in the future as the recent floods have affected hundreds of kilometers downstream areas.
He said that the Investment Board, Hydropower Investment and Development Company and other related bodies would be mobilized in an integrated manner for the reconstruction plan.
“In case of rehabilitation and rehabilitation in vulnerable areas, the local community should be kept at the center of the decision-making process. Rehabilitation and rehabilitation plans should be taken forward only after meaningful consultation with the local residents, respecting local needs, social relations, religious and cultural values, historical identity and way of life of the community,” he said.
Minister Shrestha said that the scientific ‘energy mix’ concept would be implemented to ensure the basic energy supply of the country in any situation of disaster. He also said that a modern early warning system would be established through the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
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