Lalitpur, Nepal – In a significant step towards improving disaster preparedness and response, the draft National Action Plan for Monsoon Preparedness and Response, 2082, has reached its finalization phase. Key stakeholders, including heads and representatives from various international and national non-governmental organizations, alongside subject-matter experts, shared their inputs during a program held in Lalitpur.
The speakers emphasized that the action plan must remain concise while clearly defining the roles of all relevant agencies. They further recommended incorporating provisions for monitoring accountability and ensuring the fulfillment of assigned responsibilities to strengthen the effectiveness of the plan.
Rupa BK, Minister of State for Forests and Environment and the program's chief guest, highlighted the importance of the suggestions received. She assured that the outlined responsibilities for her ministry would be carried out with diligence, adding that these inputs would contribute significantly to enhancing the action plan's quality.
Engineer Dinesh Bhatt, Chief Executive of the Authority, affirmed that discussions are ongoing with various agencies and organizations to ensure the action plan is both practical and actionable. He stressed the importance of collaboration and clarity in roles to address the challenges of monsoon-induced disasters effectively.
The program was organized by the Authority, with coordination by the Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal (DPNet-Nepal) and support from Oxfam in Nepal. This collaborative effort underscores the collective commitment of multiple stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of monsoon-related disasters in Nepal.
This initiative reflects the growing emphasis on disaster preparedness, accountability, and multi-stakeholder engagement in addressing Nepal's environmental challenges.