Committee formed to assess flood damage to transport sector

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has formed a committee to assess the human and physical losses suffered by the public transport sector following the flash floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26.

The committee, coordinated by Rajeev Pokharel, director general of the Department of Transport Management, has been directed to study the damage and the basis for compensation and submit a report with recommendations within 15 days.

Its members include Under-secretary Nirmala Gurung, Senior Divisional Engineer Shankar Singh Dhami and adviser RP Mahato. Dil Bahadur Shrestha, Shree Shrestha and Hari Bhakta Shrestha represent the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, while Dharmaraj Bhandari, Bheem Jwala Rai and Deepak KC represent transport workers’ associations and unions.

The ministry has formed another committee, coordinated by Joint Secretary Janga Bahadur Dangi, to recommend amendments to policies, regulations, Acts, laws and standards governing the transport sector.

The panel includes senior divisional engineers Jibendra Mishra and Maniram Bhusal, engineers Sagar Panthi and Anukul Nidhi, and Law Officer Januka Shiwakoti. Deknath Gautam, Bhanubhakta Baral and Purushottam Simkhada represent the federation.

The committee has been directed to submit its report with recommendations within 45 days. The ministry will pursue policy and legal reforms in the transport sector on the basis of reports submitted by both committees.

By RSS