Question 1 What is the issue, and why does it matter?
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 3 November 2023 struck Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan. UNDP, citing UN figures, reported 154 deaths, 366 injuries, 26,557 houses completely damaged and 35,455 partially damaged, and 106 schools and 77 health facilities affected.1
The choice is how to improve outcomes in this province, who benefits first, and which institution can act. The figures below belong to the stated reporting period; they are not a real-time measure of today’s conditions.
Question 2 What do current law and policy say?
Federal: National highways; civil aviation and international airports (Sch. 5 items 19, 20). Provincial: Provincial highways (Sch. 6 item 12). Local: Local, rural and agricultural roads (Sch. 8 item 11).2
Federal: National forest policy, national parks and wildlife reserves (Sch. 5 item 27). Provincial: Agriculture and livestock; use of forests within the province (Sch. 6 items 19, 20); inter-provincial forests and Himalayan areas concurrent (Sch. 7 item 23). Local: Agriculture and agricultural extension (Sch. 8 items 15, 18); forests and biodiversity shared by all levels (Sch. 9 items 4, 7).2
Federal: Water-resource policy, transmission, large projects (Sch. 5 items 11, 12, 14). Provincial: Province-level electricity (Sch. 6 item 7). Local: Small hydropower and alternative energy (Sch. 8 item 19).2
Provincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3
Question 3 What is known, uncertain or disputed?
Known
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 3 November 2023 struck Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan. UNDP, citing UN figures, reported 154 deaths, 366 injuries, 26,557 houses completely damaged and 35,455 partially damaged, and 106 schools and 77 health facilities affected.1
Uncertain
A province-wide number does not identify the worst-served wards or prove the same problem in every municipality. Before spending, establish a current local baseline, service quality, staffing, access barriers and the full operating cost.
Disputed
The policy choice is how to balance universal access, concentrated investment, affordability and fiscal sustainability. The alternatives below are Policy Nepal’s discussion options derived from the problem evidence, not claims that officials or parties have endorsed them.
Questions 4–5 What are the options, and what do they cost and achieve?
Options are listed in no particular order. Policy Nepal does not recommend one; real policies often combine them.
A
Prioritise preparedness and existing assets1
Map exposed settlements and essential facilities; clear drainage, stabilise critical slopes, maintain evacuation routes and practise warnings people can act on.
Benefits
- Focuses limited resources on reducing exposure and keeping services working.
Costs
- Risk mapping, local teams, maintenance and accessible warnings require regular funding.
Trade-offs
- Warnings do not make an unsafe home or road safe; households may need relocation support.
What does implementation require?
- Assign named offices for each critical asset, test warning reach and publish drill findings without exposing vulnerable households.
Build safer reconstruction and basin-wide protection1
Rebuild to verified safety standards and coordinate river, road and settlement interventions across municipal boundaries.
Benefits
- Can reduce repeated losses and restore access to schools, clinics and markets.
Costs
- Requires design review, skilled supervision, land agreements and long-term maintenance.
Trade-offs
- An embankment can shift flood risk elsewhere; resettlement must protect livelihoods and rights.
What does implementation require?
- Publish hazard assumptions, affected-household consultation, inspection results and a funded maintenance plan before declaring completion.
Combining options
Start with a verified baseline and maintenance of functioning services, then test additional investment against the same outcomes. Publish who pays for capital costs, recurring costs and any household charges; an unfunded operating plan is not a sustainable solution.
Question 6 Who is responsible?
Shared
Roads and airportsFederal: National highways; civil aviation and international airports (Sch. 5 items 19, 20). Provincial: Provincial highways (Sch. 6 item 12). Local: Local, rural and agricultural roads (Sch. 8 item 11).2
Shared
Apples, herbs and forestsFederal: National forest policy, national parks and wildlife reserves (Sch. 5 item 27). Provincial: Agriculture and livestock; use of forests within the province (Sch. 6 items 19, 20); inter-provincial forests and Himalayan areas concurrent (Sch. 7 item 23). Local: Agriculture and agricultural extension (Sch. 8 items 15, 18); forests and biodiversity shared by all levels (Sch. 9 items 4, 7).2
Shared
HydropowerFederal: Water-resource policy, transmission, large projects (Sch. 5 items 11, 12, 14). Provincial: Province-level electricity (Sch. 6 item 7). Local: Small hydropower and alternative energy (Sch. 8 item 19).2
Provincial
Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and Provincial AssemblyProvincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3
Question 7 What have parties and leaders said and done?
What was said or promised is shown apart from what was recorded as done. Every entry needs a dated source. A missing entry means the position is not established, not that someone opposes or is neutral.
This dossier presents official evidence and research options. It does not assign a position to a chief minister, governor, mayor or political party without a dated source specific to this issue.
Said or promised
Position not established in reviewed sources.
Recorded actions and outcomes
Position not established in reviewed sources.
Question 8 What would progress look like, and when do we check again?
IndicatorLatest official figureOfficial targetRevisit
Warning reach and time to restore essential services after an event1
Not established
No official target found
2026-10-20
Risk-reduction assets inspected and maintained before the hazard season1
Not established
No official target found
2026-10-20
Sources
Grouped by type of evidence. Government plans show what government intends; they are not proof of results. Party material shows what a party says.
Constitution & law
- The Constitution of Nepal (English translation, as amended by the Second Amendment, 2020), Schedules 4–9 — Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal, Promulgated 20 September 2015; amended 28 February 2016 and 18 June 2020 (as stated in the document). Schedule 4, list for 'Province No. 6', pp. 190–192; Schedule 5 (federal) items 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, pp. 193–195; Schedule 6 (provincial) items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20, pp. 196–197; Schedule 7 (federal–provincial concurrent) items 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 23, 25, pp. 198–199; Schedule 8 (local) items 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, pp. 200–201; Schedule 9 (all three levels) items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, p. 202. Checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of Nepal, English translation with first and second amendments — Nepal Law Commission. Articles 162, 166, 207–208; Schedules 6–9. English translation; Nepali text authoritative.. Checked 2026-10-13
Independent research
- Western Nepal Earthquake 2023: UNDP Update No. 2 — United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nepal, 12 December 2023. Situation overview and damage table, p. 1; reference to the Doti 2022, Bajhang 2023 and Jajarkot 2023 earthquakes, p. 2. Checked 2026-10-11
Change history
- 2026-10-13 — Expanded the province challenge into the same eight-question format as national issues. (Regional issues deserve equally accessible evidence, options, responsibilities and tracking. Original dates and sources retained; policy options are editorial proposals.)
