Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2074: Councils, Committees, NDRRMA and Disaster Cycle

🎬 Video explanationविपद् जोखिम न्यूनीकरण तथा व्यवस्थापन ऐन २०७४

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Nepal faces earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires, lightning, cold waves and epidemics. The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2074 (विपद् जोखिम न्यूनीकरण तथा व्यवस्थापन ऐन, २०७४) replaced the old Natural Calamity (Relief) Act, 2039. It shifts the focus from relief after disaster to reducing risk before disaster.

1. Key terms

• Disaster (विपद्): an event that causes loss of life and property beyond the coping capacity of the community.
• Natural disaster: earthquake, flood, landslide, drought, lightning, avalanche, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
• Non-natural (human-made) disaster: fire, road accident, industrial accident, epidemic, environmental pollution.
• Hazard: a possible dangerous event. Vulnerability: how easily people or things can be harmed. Risk = hazard × vulnerability (reduced by capacity).

2. Disaster management cycle

3. Institutional structure under the Act

• The National Council sets national policy and plans.
• The Executive Committee implements policies and approves plans.
• NDRRMA (formed in 2076 BS under the Ministry of Home Affairs) coordinates and implements disaster risk reduction and management work nationally.
• The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates emergency information and response, with provincial, district and local emergency operation centres.

4. Other provisions

• Disaster management funds at federal, provincial, district and local levels for preparedness, rescue and relief.
• Government may declare a disaster-affected (crisis) area and mobilise resources.
• Security forces (Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force) can be mobilised for search and rescue.
• Roles for NGOs, the private sector and volunteers in coordination with government bodies.
• Duties of individuals and organisations to follow safety standards and help in emergencies.

5. International framework

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 guides Nepal’s policies: understand risk, strengthen governance, invest in resilience and improve preparedness.

6. Challenges

• High risk due to young mountains and fault lines (2072 Gorkha earthquake, recurring floods and landslides).
• Weak enforcement of building codes and land-use rules.
• Limited resources and capacity at local level.
• Coordination problems among the three levels of government.

7. Who does what

8. Lessons from recent disasters

• The 2072 BS Gorkha earthquake showed the need for strict building codes.
• Floods such as the 2081 BS Kathmandu floods and the 2026 Bhote Koshi–Trishuli flood showed the value of early warning and land-use planning.
• Coordination among the three levels of government decides how fast relief reaches people.

9. How this topic is asked in the exam

Objective questions ask who chairs each body, the year of the Act and the Sendai Framework period (2015–2030). Subjective questions ask about the disaster management cycle or the challenges of DRR in Nepal. Use the table above and give examples from recent disasters.