Kathmandu, September 23
Lawmakers have drawn the government’s attention to rising prices, delays in post-disaster recovery and problems facing the communication sector.
They called for immediate government action over price increases ahead of the festival season and the difficult living conditions of flood-affected people.
Lawmaker Balawati Sharma questioned the government’s approach, saying prices of daily consumer goods had surged. She also questioned the government’s preparedness to protect citizens from floods in view of seasonal weather forecasts.
“Prices of vegetables and meat have risen unusually ahead of Dashain and Tihar, but the government has been avoiding responsibility by citing external factors,” she said.
Lawmaker Buddharatna Maharjan said disaster-affected families were still being forced to live in temporary shelters and demanded the announcement of a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package.
Lawmaker Bharat Prasad Parajuli said the government should clarify the status of those missing in the floods and provide relief arrangements equivalent to those for deceased victims.
Raising concerns about the communication sector, lawmaker Buddhiprasad Pant expressed solidarity with the Federation of Nepali Journalists’ protest over cuts in government advertising. He accused government policies of pushing independent media into crisis and called for strengthening the independent media sector.
Lawmaker Bishwaraj Pokhrel renewed the demand for an Area Administration Office, while lawmaker Bina Gurung urged the government to address teacher shortages and poor infrastructure in community schools.
Similarly, lawmaker Bharat Giri suggested conducting safety audits of major highways and strictly testing vehicle fitness to reduce road accidents during the festival season.
