Karnali, The government’s spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said work and activities done by people being divided would not bring expected results.

In a review meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) organised here on Sunday after she inspected the situation of the construction of temporary housing for the victims of the earthquake affected areas of Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan districts, the minister urged one and all to come together to tackle disasters.

“In this time of crisis, we must face the disaster together, but not engage in power politics.” Asking all ministries and government bodies to focus on protecting and managing the lives of the quake victims, she directed the DDMC to construct makeshift shelters as soon as possible to save them from cold.

She praised the police administration, other security, governmental and non-governmental agencies and youth for doing commendable work during the times of crisis caused by the quake.

Saying the government was ready to remove policy and legal obstacles in the construction and management of temporary housing for the quake victims, the minister said the respective ward should take responsibility to monitor irregularities in the construction of temporary huts for the victims. A policy has been passed relating to the distribution of subsidies for houses built as per need using local materials, she said.

“The government will work by getting the seismic risks mapped by geologists. Monitoring is also necessary to discourage rumours. The government should play a special role in preventing the duplication in the relief distribution and housing construction.”

In course of the inspection of the quake-hit areas, the minister received a memorandum submitted by the journalists who are working in the quake-affected areas of Rukum West and Jajarkot districts. The memo has demanded the resolution of problems the quake-affected journalists are facing.