Nepal House logjam over post-quake aid ends

The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) had been disrupting House proceedings for the past a few days demanding immediate release of the financial package to the victims of last year’s devastating quake that killed nearly 9,000 people.

The NC had also alleged a lack of transparency in the distribution of the compensation to the victims of the quake.

Following the agreement on Wednesday between the ruling alliance and the main opposition Nepali Congress, Parliament resumed discussion on the budget announced a couple of weeks ago.

Clarifying his government’s position, Prime Minister KP Oli said his government was serious about reconstruction and providing relief to the survivors of the 7.8 magnitude quake. He told the House that the Nepal Reconstruction Authority (NRA) started work soon after the required act was formulated.

He, however, acknowledged its work was delayed “for some time” due to the blockade of border checkpoints with India by Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians, over a range of demands including that the new Constitution was discriminatory against them.

Oli also countered Opposition charges that his government has politicised the NRA, saying there was no political bias in the work of the NRA and that it was a transparent body. Responding to Nepali Congress’s demand to provide NRs 2,00,000 in one instalment to quake survivors to build their houses, Oli said that it was not possible.