By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, May 8: Nepali Army is still in a dilemma about constructing 1,000-bed temporary and multi-purpose isolation and holding centres along Nepal-India border as the government has not yet arranged proper land to build them.
Last week, a meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to hand over the task of constructing isolation and holding centres to the army to house Nepali citizens especially those returning home from India.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in his televised address to the nation on May 3, had directed the army to establish such centres along the Nepal-India border.
Spokesperson of the Nepali Army and Brigadier General Shantosh Ballave Poudyal said that the government was yet to provide the land for the construction of the isolation and holding centres along the border points.
Constructing a holding centre near the border point would be of no use at all as Nepalis coming from India stay there for a only a few days. Thus, construction of isolation centres with some medical facilities should be the priority because isolation centres are meant only for COVID-19 positive people, he said.
"Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Health and Population on how to build an isolation and temporary hospital, but we have not reached any conclusion yet," Poudyal said.
He said that budget would be demanded with the Ministry of Finance after preparing their design. “The isolation centres will be built as per the instructions of the government only if budget is released in time,” he added.
Poudyal said that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Health and Population on the types of facilities-holding and isolation centres or temporary hospitals- to be constructed.
He clarified that while constructing a big building, attention would be paid to make it a multi-purpose building. He further said that the ministry has not reached a conclusion whether to construct the buildings with oxygen therapy or general hospitals.
The government had already instructed to build holding centres at Gaddachauki, Gauriphanta, Jamunah, Krishnanagar, Belahiya, Birgunj, Rani (Biratnagar) and Kakadbhitta.
Meanwhile, Jageshwar Gautam, Spokesperson at Health Ministry, said that it was the responsibility of the Nepal Army to build holding and isolation centres in the border. "The army has left a design of the holding and isolation centres at the Ministry," he said.
The Ministry of Health will assist and cooperate with the army in setting up the holding centres, Gautam said.
Similarly, Joint Secretary and spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs Janak Raj Dahal informed that the Nepal Army was assigned to set up the holding centres in eight places and instructe to move ahead with the work in coordination with the concerned district administration offices.
"Search for suitable land is being carried out in coordination with the head of the district administration offices for constructing the isolation centres," said Dahal.