Lawmakers Urge Mandatory Insurance for Government Infrastructure

Kathmandu — Lawmakers have called on the government to introduce mandatory insurance for public infrastructure and to rebuild structures damaged by floods and landslides without delay, citing the repeated loss of lives and property to climate-related disasters across Nepal.

Speaking in Tuesday’s special session of the House of Representatives, lawmakers from several parties also raised concerns about disaster preparedness, employment, energy security and public services.

Deepak Raj Bohara of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) said floods, landslides and other disasters have repeatedly caused heavy human and physical losses, and that the state spends large sums on search and rescue, relief and reconstruction. “It appears that government infrastructure has still not been insured,” he said. “Since large amounts of money are required for reconstruction after any disaster, an environment must be created to ensure mandatory insurance coverage for these structures.”

Disaster response and reconstruction

Nepali Congress lawmaker Sandip Rana highlighted extensive damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure along the Kali Gandaki River after floods and landslides between September 24 and 27, and urged the government to begin reconstruction immediately. CPN-UML lawmaker Guru Prasad Baral stressed the need for a reconstruction authority to oversee the rebuilding of flood-damaged infrastructure.

Aren Rai of the Shram Sanskriti Party, describing Khotang as the “Karnali of the east,” urged authorities to rebuild roads damaged by rainfall across all 10 local levels in the district.

UML lawmaker Rajendra Kumar Rai said there was little festive mood in Dhankuta despite the approaching festivals. Referring to the Bhotekoshi flood victims, he said families were distressed because they had received no information about those affected, and he called for more effective search and rescue operations.

Energy, economy and employment

UML lawmaker Padma Kumari Aryal objected to what she described as the government’s attempt to scrap the Aadhikhola Hydropower Project in Syangja, although its detailed project report had been prepared and approved. She urged the government to move the project forward without delay. Bharat Giri of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) called for serious efforts to address the energy crisis, and RSP lawmaker Bharat Raj Parajuli called for restructuring the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Gopal Sharma of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) accused the government of discouraging young people who want to pursue opportunities in Nepal rather than creating jobs at home, and called for expanded domestic employment. RSP lawmaker Narendra Kumar Gupta said private industries built with investments worth billions of rupees faced the risk of collapse and urged policies to support them.

RSP lawmaker Pukar Bam said non-resident Nepalis should not be seen merely as a source of money or a vote bank. He urged the government to create conditions that would encourage accomplished Nepalis abroad to return and contribute in various fields. RSP lawmaker Sitaram Sah called for government paddy procurement centers at various locations in Saptari.

Public services

Nepali Congress lawmaker Narendra Kumar Kerung drew attention to the failure to build hospitals as planned, despite the previous government’s announcement of 657 basic hospitals. RSP lawmaker Kusum Maharjan called on the government to regulate charges for beds, cabins and other accommodation in private hospitals. RSP lawmaker Bashumaya Tamang raised concern over a Nepal Airlines aircraft stranded abroad, saying it had affected passengers’ access to quality service. Radhika Ramteel of the Shram Sanskriti Party raised the discontinuation of Christian religious programs on Nepal Television.

Governance and politics

Bharat Giri of the RPP said public trust in the state was declining and that the government could not turn away from its responsibilities to citizens. UML lawmakers Nita Ghatani and Kriparam Rana rejected what they called a misleading narrative that nothing had been achieved in the past 35 years, with Rana pointing to economic, political and social reforms made during that period.

RSP lawmaker Manish Jha said the government’s recent measures to manage unplanned settlements around Kathmandu had been effective. Fellow RSP lawmaker Parasmani Gelal said time should not be wasted on accusations and counter-accusations.