By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 15: This year's National Earthquake Safety Day will be observed on the Kumari Temple premises, a historical and religious site of Bode in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, on Friday.
According to Padam Kumar Mainali, coordinator of the 23rd Earthquake Safety Day Publicity Sub-committee and Acting Director General of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, the government is eyeing to mark the Day with some special events.
Madan Sundar Shrestha, coordinator of the Earthquake Safety Day Management Sub-committee and Chief of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, said that all preparations have been completed for the programmme.
He said that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is invited as the chief guest to inaugurate and address the 'Earthquake Safety Digital Exhibition'. This year the government has adopted ‘Seismic safety in multidimensional disasters, protection of lives and property in joint cooperation’ as the slogan to mark the Earthquake Safety Day.
Mayor Shrestha said the programme would be chaired by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, who is the Coordinator of the main organising ceremony of the Earthquake Safety Day.
Keshav Silwal, information officer and legal officer of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, said that no national rally would be held on the day this year due to the risk of coronavirus infection.
He also said that the programme would further help bolster the historical heritage and art and culture of Madhyapur Thimi.
Considering the current risk of COVID-19 contagion, it has been decided to conduct various public awareness programmes at the federal, province and local levels by adopting the health standards issued by the government or online.
A two-day national seminar on seismic safety, digital seismic safety exhibitions and other programmes will also be organised through social media, mass media and online technology.
Since 2055 BS, the government of Nepal under the coordination of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been marking the National Earthquake Safety Day every year on Magh 2nd.
The day is being celebrated with the objective of exchanging information about past efforts and experiences in the field of seismic risk reduction and preparedness in the country and expressing commitment for the effective implementation of new technologies and measures.