Disaster response hindered by law, says Home Minister
He questioned the practicality of the current system, stating that purchasing essential equipment often takes more than a month and a half, by which time the disaster season may already pass.
KATHMANDU: Sudhan Gurung has said that existing laws, particularly the Public Procurement Act, are creating serious obstacles in effective disaster management and emergency response.
Speaking at today’s meeting of the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, the Home Minister noted that while advanced rescue technologies such as 200-kg lifting drones are now available in the global market, the lengthy procurement process prevents timely acquisition during the monsoon season.
He questioned the practicality of the current system, stating that purchasing essential equipment often takes more than a month and a half, by which time the disaster season may already pass.
Highlighting his experience in disaster response over the past decade, Gurung also mentioned the recent use of high-capacity drones for relief distribution in Sindhupalchok and Kavrepalanchowk.
He added that vulnerable residents living along riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley have been relocated to safer areas, with some currently placed in holding centers, whose conditions are being assessed through field inspections.
