Kathmandu, Jan 16: Nepali Congress President and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said the government should pay due attention to the development of science and technology.

Mr Koirala made this remark while inaugurating an exhibition jointly organised by the Earthquake Safety Day National Committee, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Society for Earthquake Technology, Nepal on the occasion of Earthquake Safety Day today.

Stating that government should make efforts towards encouraging the construction of earthquake resistant buildings in the future, he said public awareness is the only effective way to ensure safety in the event of natural disasters like earthquake.

On the occasion, Mr Koirala also distributed prizes to winning students of painting, essay and poster competitions organised by the Earthquake Safety Day National Committee.

In essay contest, Pashupatilal Shrestha, Monika Bastola and Karmapath Aryal came out first, second and third respectively, while in painting competition, Jayanti Maharjan came out first, Samjha Khatri second and Jeevan Suwal third.

Similarly, in poster competition, Dina Shrestha came out first and bagged a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, while Balaram Wagle, Priyanka Goyal, Rasmi Amatya and Sujita Maharjan received Rs. 500 each as consolation prize.

On the occasion, the nc chief also released a book entitled “precautions to be safe from earthquakes” published by the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhary, from the chair, underlined the need for including in school curriculum measures to be safe from natural disasters.

Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology Poshannath Dahal and Joint Secretary Punya Prasad Neupane said Magh 2 has been observed as Earthquake Safety Day since last year in keeping with the government’s decision.

Various other speakers including senior manager Dave Holester, Director of the United Nations Regional Assistance Centre Kobayashi and senior professor of Roorkee University India Anandaswarup Arya also expressed their views on the occasion.