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Nearly a year after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal, reconstruction efforts remain in limbo, leaving thousands of victims living in temporary shelters. 

The earthquake that hit Jajarkot's Ramidanda at midnight on 31 Oct 2023, caused catastrophic damage across Jajarkot and West Rukum, rendering many people homeless. However, the government’s promise of swift reconstruction has gone unfulfilled.

“We endured winter’s cold, survived the summer heat, and now another harsh winter approaches. We survived the earthquake, but other disasters might have claimed our lives,” said Bishnu Kami of Bheri Municipality, who lives in a tin shelter with no food stocks and mounting debts. “When it rains, our shelter leaks. We haven’t even been able to repay the loans we took to build this temporary shelter. Nobody seems to care about our plight.”

The initial response proved tragically inadequate as 36 people died in Jajarkot alone due to extreme cold while living in tarpaulin shelters. During monsoon season, seven more lives in Jajarkot and three in West Rukum as their temporary shelters were swept away by landslides.

Government data shows 26,557 houses were completely destroyed and 35,455 partially damaged in Jajarkot alone. The disaster also destroyed 289 schools, damaged 598 others, impacted 92 government offices, and affected 22 health facilities. Additionally, 25 temples and historical structures were damaged, along with over 50 sections of the Mid-Hill Highway and other crucial infrastructure.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) attributes the reconstruction delays to bureaucratic hurdles and a shortage of funds. “We requested Rs 250m from the Finance Ministry seven months ago for the Detailed Damage Assessment (DDA), but haven’t received it,” said Basanta Adhikari, Joint Secretary at NDRRMA. “The delay in conducting DDA is hampering rehabilitation of earthquake victims.”

The total reconstruction cost for rehabilitation of some 85,000 beneficiaries in Jajarkot and Rukum as well as Salyan, Doti, Achham, Bajhang and Bajura has been estimated at Rs 60bn.

Kali Bahadur Khatri, Chief of the District Coordination Committee of Jajarkot, said that there has been significant delay in collecting damage assessments by the team of technical experts. “How will the government, which cannot provide Rs 250m for DDA (Detailed Damage Assessment), manage the Rs 60bn required for reconstruction?” Khatri questioned.

Joint Secretary Adhikari said the reconstruction guidelines have been prepared and awaiting cabinet’s endorsement. As per the guidelines, a housing grant of Rs 400,000 has been proposed for disaster survivors in Tarai, Rs 500,000 in hilly regions and Rs 600,000 in mountainous region. However, the delay in approving these guidelines has left both victims and aid organizations in limbo.

The immediate relief efforts have also faced significant challenges. Out of 48,517 registered beneficiaries in Jajarkot, only 40,463 have received the first installment of Rs 25,000 rupees to build temporary shelters. However, only 6,182 households have received the second installment even though 32,078 have been verified for payment. 

Similar delays have been witnessed in West Rukum, where only about 16,000 of 32,996 beneficiaries have received second installment. 

The lack of reconstruction of school buildings, health facilities, and government office buildings has affected education, healthcare services, and public service delivery. According to the Jajarkot District Administration Office, 289 schools have been completely damaged and 598 schools have been partially damaged. Similarly, 92 government offices have suffered complete damage while 60 have been partially damaged. 22 health facilities have been completely damaged and 38 have sustained partial damage. Twenty-five temples and other archaeological structures have also been damaged. Chief District Officer Uma Kant Adhikari said that more than 50 roads, including the Mid-Hill Highway, have been damaged. He added that reconstruction efforts have been unable to gain momentum due to the lack of policy frameworks and structural arrangements.

Pushpa Sharma, principal of Hanuman Primary School in Bheri Municipality, said they have been forced to take five classes in one room of the temporary learning center. “If we had permanent school buildings, conducting teaching and learning activities would have been  much easier,” he added. 

Hundreds of schools in the quake-hit districts are operating from temporary structures or open spaces, leaving students and teachers to brave extreme weather conditions.

NGOs and INGOs, which initially rushed to provide relief and recovery support, now face uncertainty as their emergency programs near completion in December. “Without clear government guidelines, we don’t know how to proceed with long-term reconstruction support,” said Sahadev Basnet, chairperson of the NGO Federation Jajarkot.

Recently, political parties submitted a memorandum to Karnali Province Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel to expedite reconstruction works in quake-hit districts.

Among others, they have requested that the government expedite disbursement of second installment, provide up to Rs 3m subsidized loans per beneficiary, and special initiatives to restore destroyed public infrastructure and heritage sites. 

In response, Chief Minister Kandel expressed commitment to  allocate Rs 500m for rebuilding educational and health facilities. He added that he would lobby with the federal government for additional support.

The Lumbini province government is set to launch the ‘Ghumna Jau Bardiya’ campaign on Nov 14, aiming to promote Bardiya as a prime tourism destination. The main attraction in Bardiya is its tiger population, drawing increasing numbers of tourists eager to see these majestic animals. Bardiya National Park, the district’s top tourist destination, offers jungle safaris where visitors can spot a variety of wildlife, including tigers. Daulatpur Ghat, known for its rare dolphin sightings, has also become popular among international visitors, and the district’s Krishnasar (blackbuck) population is protected within a dedicated conservation area. Additionally, Bardiya’s homestays add appeal by offering authentic local experiences.

This campaign is part of the province’s policy initiatives to boost tourism and economic growth in the region. Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Transport Prachanda Bikram Neupane stated that the Ghumna Jau Bardiya campaign aims to increase tourism and contribute to economic prosperity in Bardiya. The campaign will launch on Nov 14 in Thakurdwara, further establishing Bardiya as a premier tourism destination within Nepal.

“Bardiya is the main tourist destination in Lumbini province,” Minister Neupane remarked. “This year, we aim for the economic prosperity of the entire province by attracting more visitors to Bardiya. Promotional programs will be held to increase tourist awareness.”

Minister Neupane explained that promotional efforts will focus on attracting foreign tourists through collaboration with relevant stakeholders to enhance visitor experiences. “We will organize promotional programs to inform tourists about Bardiya’s attractions and ensure smooth coordination with all parties for their convenience,” he added.

Tourists visiting Bardiya can sample local cuisine at homestays and observe innovative agricultural practices. The district offers unique opportunities for agricultural study, making it an appealing destination for both ecotourism and cultural exploration.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has pledged to uphold a strict, uncompromising approach to criminal investigations.

During a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, MPs questioned the arrest of former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. In response, Minister Lekhak assured that all individuals accused of corruption, fraud or other criminal activities will be brought under probe regardless of political affiliations. “There is no discrimination; the ruling party does not differentiate between the opposition or any other party,” he said. “We base our actions on facts.”

He emphasized that evidence guides the direction of investigations and that the government will not misuse the law to target, harm or harass anyone. “Investigations are fair and independent. We seek court approval as per the need,” he said, urging the public to trust the government’s adherence to legal boundaries.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has also urged the government to initiate an immediate investigation into Congress leader Dhanraj Gurung and CPN-UML MP Rishikesh Pokharel for their alleged involvement in a cooperative scam. Thapa stated that the Parliamentary Investigation Special Committee on the Misuse of Cooperative Savings found evidence implicating Congress Vice-president Gurung and UML MP Pokharel in the case, stressing that the government must promptly investigate and bring them to justice if they are found guilty.

Addressing a festive greeting exchange program organized by Nepal Rastra Bank in Kathmandu on Monday, Thapa argued that timely action against anyone involved in fraud will help build public trust. “The embezzlers of cooperatives number in the hundreds. Around 500 to 600 people are under prosecution, while another 500 to 700 have been absconding. Bring all of them under investigation, whether the case is new or old,” he urged. “The committee supports this approach, and we call on the government to handle these matters thoroughly. This also concerns the credibility of the common citizen.”

He added, “There is ongoing public discussion about the involvement of Congress Vice-president Dhanraj Gurung. I urge the government to conduct a thorough probe. CPN-UML’s Rishikesh Pokharel has also been named. Investigate thoroughly and prosecute if wrongdoing is found. Punish those responsible.”

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Climate Change released urgent reports on the escalating levels of greenhouse gasses and the inadequacy of current emissions targets. Both reports underscore the dire need for rapid and aggressive climate policies ahead of COP29, which is set to take place in Baku from Nov 11 to 22.

The WMO reported on Monday that greenhouse gas concentrations reached unprecedented levels in 2023, driving global temperatures higher and committing the planet to years of warming. The UN agency’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin highlighted that carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide concentrations are all at record highs, with CO2 levels climbing at an alarming rate—up more than 10 percent in just two decades.

CO2 concentrations rose by 11.4 percent in the past 20 years, reaching 420 ppm in 2023. Methane and nitrous oxide levels were also significantly elevated, reaching 1,934 ppb and 336.9 ppb, respectively. These values represent 151 percent, 265 percent, and 125 percent increases from pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch network of monitoring stations.

“These aren’t just statistics; every part per million and every fraction of a degree of temperature increase brings real impacts on our lives and ecosystems,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The 2023 CO2 increase was 2.3 ppm—the 12th consecutive year with an increase above two ppm—driven by persistent fossil fuel emissions and aggravated by large-scale vegetation fires and the effects of El Niño.

The report underscores the difficulty in meeting the Paris Agreement goals to limit warming below 2°C, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. “We are clearly off track,” said Saulo. She stressed that warming feedbacks—where rising temperatures reduce the ability of ecosystems to absorb CO2—pose an even greater risk.

Due to the long atmospheric lifespan of CO2, the current levels of global warming will likely persist for decades, even with rapid emission cuts. “The warming effects of CO2 will not dissipate quickly, locking in temperature increases for generations,” noted Saulo. Radiative forcing—or the warming impact from greenhouse gasses—has increased by 51.5 percent since 1990, with CO2 accounting for 81 percent of this rise.

The WMO report highlighted concerns over the durability of natural carbon sinks. Currently, oceans and land ecosystems absorb nearly half of CO2 emissions, with oceans accounting for a quarter and land ecosystems nearly 30 percent. However, as Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett noted, climate change could reduce these natural carbon sinks’ efficiency. “Warming oceans may absorb less CO2, while wildfires could release more carbon into the atmosphere,” Barrett warned, adding that climate feedback could intensify warming further.

The WMO pointed out that current CO2 levels mirror those of 3m-5m years ago, a period when global temperatures were 2-3°C higher and sea levels were 10-20 meters above today’s levels. With the WMO warning that ecosystems themselves might soon become net emitters of greenhouse gasses, Barrett stressed the urgency of addressing these “vicious cycles” that could exacerbate the crisis and have profound impacts on human society.

These findings align with the UN Environment Program’s recent Emissions Gap Report, which assesses the growing disparity between current emissions and levels needed to meet climate targets.

On Monday, UN Climate Change released its 2024 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report. The report evaluates the collective impact of current national climate plans on anticipated global emissions by 2030, underscoring the critical changes required to avert severe climate impacts. 

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasizes that this report “must mark a turning point, ending the era of inadequacy and sparking a new age of acceleration” with much bolder climate plans needed from all nations in the coming year. 

The report finds that combined global NDCs would lead to a mere 2.6 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels, only marginally improving on last year’s two percent projection. This falls far short of the 43 percent reduction by 2030 needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as advised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Stiell states, “Current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy and wrecking billions of lives and livelihoods across every country.” He emphasizes that “much bolder new national climate plans can not only avert climate chaos—done well, they can be transformational for people and prosperity in every nation.”

The report serves as a wake-up call, highlighting that “emissions of 51.5 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2030—only 2.6 percent lower than in 2019—will guarantee a human and economic train wreck for every country.” 

Stiell urges nations to adopt “ambitious new emissions targets that are economy-wide” and ensure they are backed by “substantive regulations, laws, and funding to ensure goals are met and plans implemented.” He also emphasizes the need for new NDCs to detail adaptation priorities and investments to protect vulnerable sectors and populations.

With COP29 in Baku on the horizon, Stiell stresses the importance of converting commitments from COP28, such as transitioning from fossil fuels and tripling renewables, into concrete policies. He concludes that new NDCs will be among “the most important policy documents” of the century, setting a clear path for renewable energy scaling, strengthened adaptation, and accelerated low-carbon transitions globally.

Both reports aim to inform COP29 discussions, where decision-makers are urged to treat the surging greenhouse gas levels as a “wakeup call” and to adopt more aggressive climate policies.