KATHMANDU: In Sunday’s meeting of the National Assembly, lawmakers raised various concerns—ranging from the worsening drought in the Tarai to the need for ministers to disclose their assets—urging the government to take prompt action.

During zero hour, lawmaker Sabitri Malla pointed out that water sources in the Tarai are drying up even during the monsoon, and merely declaring eight districts as drought-affected is not enough. She called on the government to implement immediate relief measures.

Ghanshyam Rijal criticized the government for talking about good governance while making unauthorized personal secretary appointments. He demanded that ministers make their property details public.

Krishna Bahadur Rokaya raised the issue of the Chaurjahari Airport in Rukum West, which has remained non-operational for six years. He urged the government to resume flights there immediately.

Padam Bahadur Pariyar drew the government’s attention to the plight of Sangita Thapa, a Nepali woman working in Kuwait, who has alleged mental and physical abuse by her employer in Facebook posts. He demanded her immediate rescue.

Rukmini Koirala highlighted that around 35,000 bighas of land were encroached upon during the construction of the Koshi Barrage and bridge after the 1951 Koshi Agreement between Nepal and India. She stated that although India had promised compensation, it has not been provided to date, causing hardships for locals.

Renu Chand pointed out that the Shribharwar Road in Purchaudi Municipality of Baitadi has still not been upgraded, and urged the government to take the matter seriously.

Bishnu Kumari Sapkota said the Transport Management Office and Department are becoming increasingly disorganized and called for measures to restore public trust.

Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma demanded action in the case of 17-year-old Menuka and 15-year-old Sirjana Kandel, daughters of the Kandel family from Surkhet’s Panchapuri. Though the two girls were reported to have died by suicide after going missing for three weeks and being found dead in Bode, Bhaktapur, the lawmaker alleged abduction and murder. He called for immediate investigation and action against those possibly involved.

Shree Krishna Adhikari demanded an investigation into the government’s decision to remove the “cooling-off period” clause from the Civil Service Bill, questioning its compatibility with the government’s stated commitment to good governance.