CHITWAN: President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, has said that they will move forward by making immediate and long-term plans to protect the town area from erosion by the Narayani River.
In discussions with stakeholders organized by the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry after monitoring and inspecting the damage along the Narayani River, today, President Lamichhane said that protecting citizens’ lives, the existence of markets, historical significance, and the property of businessmen is the main priority right now.
He said that as soon as the Chamber of Commerce informed him about the risks seen in the town area, he immediately informed all the relevant agencies and deployed a team to carry out the necessary studies and planning.
The RSP President mentioned that the team has already started the work and expressed a commitment to continue it in the coming days.
Lamichhane emphasized that plans should be made keeping in mind both the immediate tasks and long-term solutions.
He also pointed out the possibility that in the future, the town area might need to be relocated, based on technical studies, and that if such a situation arises, all stakeholders should participate in the decision-making process together.
“The budget is the second thing for saving the people. The first priority is how to actually protect the people,” he said, adding that there needs to be a clear plan about what can be done immediately and what needs to be done in the long run to safeguard citizens’ lives, the market’s history, and the property of local businessmen.
Lamicchane clarified that he does not believe Chitwan should be given special priority just because it is his constituency.
He said that the state should allocate resources based on the extent of damage and the needs caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.
He said that the problems of citizens affected by floods in areas like Karnali, Sudurpaschim, and Madhesh are just as significant. Party president Lamichhane mentioned that Chitwan’s problems will also be addressed based on needs, similar to other affected areas, and informed that the study on urgently needed work is almost ready.
He urged stakeholders to remain assured and expressed his commitment to take the necessary initiatives to secure resources for the projects identified by the study.
During the discussion, President Lamichhane thanked the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for promptly informing about the risk to the market area from the erosion and flooding of the Narayani River and for assisting in deploying the study team.
During the discussion, Chiranjivi Subedi, president of the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mentioned that President Lamichhane has been taking the problem of river erosion seriously and has been initiating solutions from the beginning.
He asked him to come up with the necessary plans so that the river erosion problem could be solved in the long term.
