Banke local levels form inter-municipal network for disaster management

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Jan. 21: All local levels in Banke have come together to form an inter-municipal network for disaster management in case of any disaster in the district.

The inter-municipal network has been formed under the coordination of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Prashant Bista, with a commitment to cooperating in disaster preparedness and response.

Rupan Gyawali, Information Management Officer at the Emergency Operations Centre, said that the network was formed and the local levels expressed a collective commitment to cooperating in disaster management and move forward.

He said the network was formed to support each other during disasters, sharing everything from technical assistance to manpower and resource mobilisation and exchanging experiences.

Mayor Bista, the coordinator of the Inter-municipal Disaster Management Network, Banke, said that all municipalities would collaborate to integrate their resources and capabilities for disaster management, response, and recovery and move forward strongly to tackle disasters.

Bista said that with the support of the Super Project running in Nepalgunj for disaster management, they succeeded in implementing the House and Shelter Insurance Scheme, producing 400 skilled human resources in the city for disaster management and developing a business continuity plan.

Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality Chairman Tapta Bahadur Paudel and Khajura Rural Municipality Chairman Dambar Bahadur BK said that they were working by formulating policies, procedures, acts, and laws for disaster management.

Sita Karki, deputy head of the District Coordination Committee, Banke, expressed confidence that the network would do this work as cooperation and partnership between all local governments was necessary for disaster management.

District Disaster Management Committee Chairman and Chief District Officer Khagendra Prasad Rijal suggested that all local levels should formulate a common strategy and concept during the disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation phases.

In the meantime, Super Project Coordinator Siddharth Sharma said that various programmes were carried out targeting Ward Nos. 3 and 7 of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City.

On the occasion, Nepalgunj Deputy Mayor Kamaruddin Rai, Duduwa Rural Municipality Chairman Narendra Kumar Chaudhary, Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City Chief Administrative Officer Om Bahadur Khadka and others were present.