Parliamentary Committee directs govt to forward construction task only after geological study

Kathmandu, June 16: The Agriculture and Water Resources Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government to forward construction task in the quake-affected districts only after carrying out geological study.

The Committee issued this directive based on the discussions held among Agriculture Development, Land Reforms and Management, Energy and Irrigation ministries and experts of the bodies concerned on June 7, 9 and 12.

The Committee also directed the government to formulate a plan of reconstruction only after coordination with the Department of Mines and Geology and its strict implementation. It requested the bodies concerned to develop the settlement on the basis of soil capacity map and geological map.

As per the decision of the meeting made available today by the Committee, it has made aware to pay special attention to identify suitable places for the development of settlement as any settlement of quake-hit areas would be at the risk of floods and landslides.

Committee Chairman Gagan Thapa told the National News Agency (RSS) that the Committee has directed the bodies concerned to take the suggestion of the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management and Department of Mines and Geology as problem would be surfaced in days ahead while constructing building without carrying out geological study.

The committee chair Thapa informed that the expert team should carry out the study in detail as more than 20 places in the quake affected districts are at high risk of landslide. He added that the report should be beneficial for settlement development strategy as well.

Similarly, the committee directed the government to pay attention on prioritizing the watershed areas and risky settlements as per the need of land use conditions while preparing long-term plan.

Similarly, the committee has directed the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management to prepare detailed draft on the reformation of policy for Settlement development within 15 days.

The committee has further directed the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Commission to intensify the reconstruction projects with a high priority by mobilizing maximum human resources and means. RSS