Kathmandu, 16 September (H.S.): An all-party meeting convened at the initiative of Ravi Lamichhane, chairperson of Nepal’s ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), reviewed the ongoing relief, search and rescue, and reconstruction efforts following the floods in the country.

Speaking after the meeting, RSP spokesperson Jagadish Kharel said that contemporary issues, including the Bhotekoshi floods, were discussed. The meeting reviewed the efforts being undertaken by the government and political parties in the areas of search and rescue, relief distribution, rehabilitation and reconstruction following the floods.

The meeting also decided to continue the all-party political mechanism coordinated by Ravi Lamichhane. According to Kharel, the mechanism will include the RSP, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party, Shram Sanskriti Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Janamat Party, along with other parties represented in Parliament and those outside Parliament.

In addition, an agreement was reached to constitute a special parliamentary committee within a week. Representation on the committee will be based on the number of seats held by the respective parties in Parliament. The committee will study and investigate disaster-affected areas and coordinate relief and related efforts.

However, the committee’s terms of reference have yet to be finalised.

The meeting also discussed Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s upcoming visit to the United Nations.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar