KATHMANDU, April 18: With Nepal heading toward its most disaster-prone months, the government has set itself a tight three-day deadline to identify critical gaps and mobilise resources aimed at minimising risks from both the dry spell and the approaching monsoon.
A high-level meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, has decided to categorise disaster-related concerns raised by members of the House of Representatives and prioritise them based on risk exposure within the next three days. The move signals an attempt to shift from reactive response to early preparedness.
Officials said the government will simultaneously determine what mitigation and response measures can realistically be completed within the current fiscal year, setting June 29 as the deadline for implementation.
At the heart of the plan is an urgent stocktaking of resources. Authorities have been tasked with assessing the availability of funds, equipment and logistics required to tackle seasonal disasters—ranging from droughts and forest fires during the dry months to floods, landslides, inundation and river erosion once the monsoon sets in. Any shortfall identified in this assessment will be reported within three days, with additional support to be sought from the Ministry of Finance.
Disaster and climate risks and sectoral development planning
The meeting also decided that ministries will first utilise their allocated budgets to manage disaster preparedness and response, before turning to the Finance Ministry for supplementary resources if needed. This reflects an effort to streamline spending while ensuring rapid deployment of funds.
In a parallel effort, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been assigned to compile, within five days, a comprehensive inventory of disaster-response tools and materials available across government agencies. The aim is to identify gaps in equipment and ensure that critical supplies are procured and distributed based on urgency and risk levels.
Officials said procurement decisions will be guided by this integrated report, with the Finance Ministry expected to make necessary budgetary arrangements to fill the gaps.
Beyond resources, the government has emphasised the need for stronger coordination across all tiers—federal, provincial and local—throughout the disaster management cycle, from preparedness to response and recovery.
Recognising the cross-border nature of many disasters, particularly floods and extreme weather events, the meeting also underscored the importance of regional cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with enhancing collaboration with neighbouring countries, especially in the exchange of meteorological data and early warning information.
As Nepal braces for increasingly erratic weather patterns, the coming days will test whether these decisions translate into timely action on the ground.
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