Kathmandu, October 6
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs will move ahead with amending laws through a “fast track” to resolve legal complications in registering the deaths of people who went missing in climate-induced disasters.
Joint Secretary Subhash Kumar Bhattarai told a meeting of the Parliamentary Special Committee on the Impact of Climate Change in the Himalayas, Climate Justice and the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Disaster at Singha Durbar on Tuesday that amending the law is essential to address the hardship procedural hurdles in current law have caused disaster-affected families.
He said the ministry is coordinating with the Home Ministry to resolve problems related to the legal status of disaster victims and the registration of deaths.
The procedure in the current National Civil Code is long and cumbersome, making it hard for families of the missing to get relief and other legal benefits. In view of this, the Law Ministry is preparing to prioritise proposals received from the Home Ministry to amend the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and the National Identity Card and Registration Act. Bhattarai said discussions are under way on how to settle this quickly even when Parliament is not in session.
“Existing legal provisions are currently inadequate for declaring and registering the deaths of missing citizens, so the process to amend the relevant Acts has begun in coordination with the Home Ministry,” he said. “We are preparing to move this ahead through the fast track as needed.”
According to Bhattarai, managing the long-term effects of climate change requires legal reform in coordination with various ministries. For this, discussions will be held with the Ministry of Forests and Environment on amending the Environment Protection Act or, if needed, creating a separate climate change law.
He also said the ministry will coordinate with the relevant ministries to reform the Land Use Act and laws related to infrastructure safety, so that land can be classified and used according to risk.
A special committee formed under the law minister’s coordination is currently holding discussions with representatives of various ministries on legal reform.
The government has committed to playing a coordinating role in lawmaking and finding a permanent legal solution to problems caused by climate-related disasters.
