MPs draw attention of government towards COVID-19 control, disaster mitigation

KATHMANDU, July 30: MPs have drawn the attention of the government towards prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic and disaster mitigation. Speaking in the 'zero hour' in the meeting of the House of Representatives today, they urged the government to take steps towards saving lives with utmost seriousness.  Dev Prasad Gurung of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed on the need of bringing damage mitigation programmes taking into account the large scale damage to lives and property caused by the flooding and landslide occurred in various places. He also called for providing appropriate compensation to the disaster-survivors.  Another lawmaker from the same party Devendra Poudel expressed concern over the delay in managing adequate quantity of vaccines in the face of the flaring COVID-19 pandemic. "The Ministry of Health and Population has warned of the outbreak of a new variant of coronavirus. But we do not find that the vaccination drive is conducted in a systematic and effective manner. The citizens are compelled to endure long wait in queue. The government should pay attention to this," he added.  Dr Dila Sangraula of the ruling party, the Nepali Congress, emphasised on the need of providing COVID vaccines to all citizens. She called on the government to take necessary steps to checking violence against women, including their kidnapping.   Devendra Raj Kandel of the same party called on the government to facilitate the foreign employment aspirants and migrant workers as they have been facing various difficulties traveling abroad.  Dilendra Prasad Badu, also of the Nepali Congress, said three people have died, a bridge has been swept away and the water supply project damaged due to flooding in the Naugad of Darchula recently. He called on the government to provide appropriate relief to the affected people. Pushpa Bhusal urged the government to be serious regarding controlling the COVID-19 in an effective manner.  Lawmakers Dr Deepak Prakash Bhatta, Durga Bahadur Raut, Durga Kumari Bishwokarma, Durga Poudel, Damodar Bhandari, Dil Kumari, Divya Mani Rajbhandari, Dharmashila Chapagain, Nandalal Roka, Nawaraj Silwal, Narayan Prasad Khatiwada, Niradevi Jairu, Nirudevi pal, Padma Narayan Chaudhary, Pabitra Niraula Kharel, Parbata DC Chaudhary, Parbati Kumari Bishankhe, Prakash Rasaili, Pramila Rai, among others, also voiced various issues concerning the livelihood of the people and the problems faced by the people due to the pandemic.