7 of Shrawan,Kathmandu : All eight districts of Madhesh Province have been declared a disaster-affected crisis zone for a period of three months. This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, following a proposal from Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
The declaration was prompted by prolonged drought, which has led to insufficient groundwater recharge, drying up of underground water sources, an acute shortage of drinking water, and reduced water flow in rivers and canals affecting the irrigation system.
On Tuesday, the Madhesh Provincial Government had recommended to the federal government that the entire province be declared a crisis zone. Based on this recommendation, the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to publish a notice in the Nepal Gazette, officially declaring the province a crisis zone for three months from the date of publication.
According to Clause 14, Sub-clause 2(d) of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017, the government can declare a disaster-affected area a crisis zone if necessary.
The Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Madhesh Province reported that only 46 percent of arable land in the province has been planted with paddy due to drought. As the agricultural system in the region heavily depends on the monsoon, the lack of timely rainfall has not only delayed planting but has also caused cracks in already planted fields, threatening overall crop yields.
The government has stated that this declaration will allow for the initiation of relief and recovery efforts to address the crisis.
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