Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak held a virtual coordination meeting with local representatives and Chief District Officers (CDOs) from disaster-affected areas of the Terai–Madhesh region. The meeting was organized today by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
During the meeting, Minister Lekhak stated that the government is serious about the suffering of citizens and informed that Madhesh Province has been declared a disaster-affected zone based on the Home Ministry’s proposal.
He directed CDOs to identify areas facing severe drinking water and irrigation shortages and prioritize the installation of deep tube wells and boreholes. Additionally, he instructed that water supply through tankers should continue in areas without water sources or where sources have dried up, utilizing private sector tankers and security agencies if necessary.
Minister Lekhak also emphasized using available water sources from government offices, schools, hospitals, and NGOs for drinking water needs. He warned against “cartelization” and black marketing during the crisis and called for strict monitoring.
NDRRMA Executive Chief Dinesh Prasad Bhatt informed that the authority has requested UN agencies, national and international NGOs, and the Red Cross to revise their programs and focus on Madhesh.
Local representatives and CDOs from Madhesh Province and drought-affected districts briefed the meeting about the current situation and efforts being made to resolve the crisis.
Earlier, the Nepal government declared Madhesh Province a disaster-affected zone for three months on July 23. Before that, the provincial government had declared Madhesh as drought-affected on July 10 after water sources dried up, causing drinking water and irrigation shortages.
