Patan (Lalitpur) : Minister for Urban Development Kulman Ghising has empathized the need of developing settlements only after necessary study for mitigating disaster risks.
In his closing remarks in the Fourth National Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held here since Monday on the occasion of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2025, he stated Nepal has been facing disasters every year due to climate change and that effective management and information systems are necessary for this.
At the programme organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Ghising said, “Problems have surfaced in disaster management because river systems and water management systems have not been made effective. Food security and unplanned settlement development along riverbanks pose challenges to disaster management. Now, it is necessary to conduct proper studies to determine where settlements can be established and manage accordingly”.
He emphasized that disaster management also needs attention from a social perspective, noting that if water management is implemented in nearly 30 river basins in Nepal, it will facilitate irrigation and drinking water management and help with flood control.
Executive Director at the NDRRMA Dinesh Bhatta stressed the need to enable local governments and community citizens, highlighting that physical infrastructure should be insured for disaster risk reduction.
He also underlined the need to enhance capacity of security personnel working for disaster management. Chairperson of Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal (DPNET), Dr Raju Thapa called for increased investment in resilient areas and utilizing indigenous knowledge and maximizing the use of local resources to prevent disasters.
