Kathmandu, Ashoj 20 - The Government of Nepal has shifted its focus from regular search and rescue operations to reconstruction and rehabilitation following the Bhotekoshi - Trishuli floods. Search and rescue efforts will now continue mainly in cases where emergency intervention or further operations are considered necessary.
The decision was taken by the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The government said the decision was based on recommendations from district security committees, district disaster-management committees, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and assessments conducted in the flood-affected areas.
As part of the post-flood recovery plan, the council has recommended around Rs 559.17 billion for 504 reconstruction and rehabilitation plans and programs submitted by various ministries and government agencies. The required funding will be arranged through the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Regulations, 2020.
The proposed Nepal flood reconstruction program will focus on repairing damaged infrastructure and addressing the broader rehabilitation needs of communities affected by the floods. The government has also directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to recommend funding for additional projects after their cost estimates and priorities are finalized. Prime Minister Shah said reconstruction and rehabilitation would be carried out through close coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments, following the coordination mechanism used during the emergency response.
The decision signals a major transition in Nepal’s response to the Bhotekoshi - Trishuli flood disaster. While search and rescue operations will continue where urgently required, the immediate priority is now rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring livelihoods and helping affected communities recover.
For flood-affected areas, the success of the next phase will depend not only on the Rs 559 billion reconstruction budget, but also on how quickly projects are approved, financed and implemented. Effective coordination and targeted rehabilitation will be crucial to ensure that reconstruction reaches the communities and locations most severely affected by the floods.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
