KATHMANDU, Sept 17: Political parties have failed to reach an agreement on the terms of reference (ToR), composition and tenure of a proposed parliamentary special committee to study the disaster and climate change issues in the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi-Trishuli area.
A meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday under the initiative of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Ganesh Parajuli discussed the size, formation process, tenure and responsibilities of the proposed committee. However, the parties could not reach a consensus.
According to CPN-UML lawmaker Padma Aryal, the meeting held detailed discussions on the committee’s structure, tenure and responsibilities but failed to reach an agreement. She said the parties would seek consensus at the next meeting.
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Nepali Congress lawmaker Nishkal Rai said there was a proposal to keep the special committee small. He said the proposal was to form the committee for three months, with the option of extending its tenure if necessary.
Rai said all parties should participate in the committee by rising above the ruling-opposition divide on the disaster issue. He said the Nepali Congress had proposed a committee comprising five of its representatives and one representative from each of the other sides.
However, Rai said consensus could not be reached after the RSP proposed that representation on the committee should be based on the numerical strength of the parties in Parliament.
The parties have also yet to agree on the committee’s coordinator or chairperson. They plan to discuss the remaining issues and finalize the committee’s composition and ToR at the next meeting.
