Lalitpur, Oct. 4
The National Planning Commission (NPC) is in the final stage in preparing the preliminary report for the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) undertaken for the analysis of loss and damage caused by the Bhotekoshi floods occurred on August 26, and recovery needs.
"We are at the
final stage of the PDNA's first preliminary report. Most of the field work has
been completed," Vice Chairman of the NPC, Dr. Gunakar Bhatta said while
speaking at a policy-dialogue on 'Bhotekoshi to Resilience: A Call for climate
justice, including the role of CSOs' organised by the Former Planner's Forum
Nepal in Lalitpur on Sunday.
The PDNA is being
carried out by the NPC and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Authority (NDRRMA). It will validate the information assessed by the RDNA.
According to Dr.
Bhatta, the PDNA will cover damage and economic losses, impact on human and
society, and macro-economic indicators, disaster recovery and rehabilitation
cost, and will determine recovery modality and programmes.
He said that, in the
long-run, the government will also move ahead with the future development
strategy in the disaster-affected areas and those with potential risks.
"Incorporating the private sector and enhancing their confidence is also
our priority," he said.
According to him, the
loss in the disaster was estimated at two per cent of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) every year but the latest Bhotekoshi disaster has caused damage
of about six per cent of the GDP.
The survey team has
contacted about 7,000 families and obtained data about their loss, impact of
disaster and need for recovery
The field survey and
meeting people affected by the unfortunate event has given an impression that
the government has cared about them. It has enhanced government to people
relations which is instrumental, said Dr. Bhatta.
Stating that there are
complexities about mapping the loss and damage incurred on the hydroelectricity
projects as they can't be rehabilitated at least within a couple of years, he
informed that government has sought help from the United Nations agencies.
Economist and Vice-Chairman
of the FPFN Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal said that the discourse on disaster management
should incorporate climate resilience and resilient development, and the
country should be ready for the management of future disasters like the
Bhotekoshi flood.
Stating that the
climate fund and loss and damage fund are still uncertain, he suggested that
the government should adopt two-pronged strategy – multilateral and bilateral
support and internal resource generation. "I have suggested the government
to remove unnecessary advisors, scrap sick projects, restructure development
projects, transfer budget from committee-based organisations, and incorporate
the private sector in rebuilding programme," he said.
Likewise, economist Dr.
Govinda Nepal said that lack of resources poses challenge for Nepal in
balancing resilience and economic cost.
"The government
must find ways to manage funds for the recovery and reconstruction and
strengthen its agencies and authorities in executing the post-disaster
rebuilding projects in timely and efficient manner," he said.
He also cautioned that,
in the past, the government had conducted multiple surveys for a single
disaster event, this time the floods must not be politicized.
Former CEO of the
NDRRMA Dr. Dharma Raj Upreti said that there is a need to rethink about the
size of the post-disaster support package.
"A small amount
of financial support would be helpful for the quake-affected families as the
construction materials like wood and stones could be reused, but in disasters
like floods, there remains nothing," he said.
Stating that the
communities are incorporated in the disaster management mechanisms from local
body to federal level, he said that their roles should be enhanced and
strengthened, not reduced.
Former member of the NPC Saloni Pradhan Singh said
that the intensity of disaster
impacts is different across communities and groups, and women are facing
increased discrimination and challenges in the immediate aftermath of the
Bhotekoshi flood.
The federal
government, local bodies, community organisations, non-government agencies and
private sector organisations should form a strong and effective bond to make
the recovery and rebuilding result-oriented and timely, she said.
Arjun Bhattarai, president
of the NGO Federation, said that the government should plan to announce a
'disaster decade' to set basic infrastructure for climate resilience and
implement safety measures as well as to lobby at the international level to
obtain facilities.
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