‘Focus should be on post-rescue rehabilitation and reconstruction’: Finance Minister

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has said that all political parties and parties should come together to find a solution in this time of national crisis.

Talking to media persons after the all-party meeting organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Finance Minister Dr Wagle said chairs, presidents and other leaders of major political parties were present in the meeting.

He said that the political character of coming together to resolve the issue of national crisis has been developed.

He said that he and the Home Minister participated in the meeting on behalf of the Government of Nepal and held discussions with the leaders of all the political parties. He said that the focus should be on the initial recovery after rescue and relief and then on the reconstruction work in the medium and long term.

He said, “On the issue of national crisis, in the hour of national crisis, it is also becoming a political character for all parties, all parties to come together and give solutions. On behalf of the government, I, the Finance Minister and the Home Minister, were present and discussed with the leaders of all the parties. After the rescue and relief phase, there is the initial recovery phase. Then we will also deal with the issues of reconstruction in the long-term, medium term. ’

Stating that rescue and relief are the priority of the government at present, Wagle said that rescue of disappeared and stranded Nepali citizens and foreign tourists is underway.

According to him, initially the rescue was started with two helicopters, but now 22 helicopters have been deployed. He said that the rescue activities will be carried out continuously as long as geography and weather cooperate.

He said, “Now we are in relief and rescue for two to four days. The Home Minister has issued a briefing. The rescue of many Nepali citizens, brothers, sisters and foreign tourists who are missing and stranded is going on. Yesterday, 22 helicopters were flown by two helicopters, and rescue activities are going on as long as geography and weather cooperate. Along with this, we are also engaged in mobilizing resources and international aid. ’

Wagle said that along with the rescue, necessary resources and international aid have also been mobilized. Stating that he was informed about the Rasuwa flood incident at around 9:30 am yesterday, he said that although he was initially concerned about the situation of the Department of Customs, the process of raising financial assistance worth Rs 25 billion was initiated after holding discussions with the World Bank within an hour after knowing the magnitude of the incident.

He said that he has received immediate assistance from the governments of China, India and Japan, the Asian Development Bank and the International Federation of Red Cross, Geneva. He said that this has given confidence to the government to carry out the necessary rescue and relief work.

According to Dr Wagle, around Rs 10 billion has been allocated in the current budget for reconstruction, relief and disaster management.

Around Rs 2.34 billion has been allocated for the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund and Rs 1.17 billion for the Home Ministry.

Wagle said that the Council of Ministers has given him the responsibility to move ahead in such a way that there is no shortage of resources and financial needs for the time being.

He also informed that 22 to 25 concrete bridges and about 700 MW capacity hydropower projects have been damaged due to floods and disasters. Stating that there has been a huge loss of life and property, Wagle said that dead bodies have been found in Nawalpur and Chitwan.

“22-25 concrete bridges, 700 megawatts of hydropower have been damaged and many lives and property have been damaged. The bodies have been found in Nawalpur and Chitwan. All the parties and bodies of the society are moving forward with the need to get involved in this,” he said.

He stressed the need for all sides of society, political parties and bodies concerned to work together for relief, rescue, recovery and reconstruction.