KMC to form disaster management act implementation committee; 11 member committee to be constituted in a week

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is to form a committee headed by KMC mayor within a week for implementing its 'disaster management act'.

KMC's fourth town assembly passed the Disaster Management Act on April 7. The 11-member committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya in a week's time from now, said KMC spokesman Ishwarman Dongol.

The committee would comprised of KMC deputy mayor, the chief administrative officer, the coordinators of thematic committees, the representative of the district administration office, the chief or the representative of the federal security bodies based within the geographical area of the KMC and the chief or representative of the State Police Office as members.    

Besides the above-mentioned members, the committee would also have the chief of the metropolitan police, the representative from the NGO Federation, one local representative of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the local representative of Nepal Red Cross Society and one representative of the chamber of commerce and industry recognized by the private sector to be nominated by the KMC mayor.    

The official assigned by KMC to look after the disaster management would be the member-secretary of this committee.    

According to spokesman Dongol, KMC would also set up a separate fund for the disaster management.    

The Act has been issued to minimize the damage caused by the natural and non-natural disasters, to protect and preserve the cultural heritages and to carry out disaster management works in an effective and coordinated manner at times of disasters. The Act also provides for coordination in rescue works, relief distribution and other humanitarian assistance as well as for the mobilization of security bodies, the fire brigade and other service providers.