Kathmandu,
Oct. 12: The Development Committee under the Legislature-Parliament Thursday directed
the government and line ministries to complete the national pride projects at
the earliest possible date regardless of the situation prevailing.
Expressing
its serious concern and dissatisfaction at the sluggish progress at the large
infrastructure project, the committee criticized the government, Office of the
Prime Minister and other concerned ministries, and asked them to find out the
cause of the slow pace of construction.
“If
the present pace of construction remains the same, it would take about 60 years
to complete the national pride projects. Similarly, the capital expenditure at
those projects is always below 70 per cent,” said Rabindra Adhikari, Chairman
of the committee.
Stating
that the lack of physical infrastructure hampers the economic and social
development, the committee directed the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the
national priority projects with seamless budget allocation and provide
additional money if required.
Construction
works at some of the projects was affected due to the delayed imbursement of
the budget.
Similarly,
the house panel made a note that the country was marred by the donor-driven
development concept where the international agencies identified the development
need and the country prepared plans as per that.
“Even
after the 6 decades of planned development in the country, we don’t have any
project that the nation can be proud of, neither we have any significant
economic event till now,” reads the decision of the panel.
It
directed the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and its agency
Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR)
to develop the infrastructure at the local level in holistic approach.
“The
country is investing a huge amount of money in upgrading the infrastructure
developed by the DOLIDAR which has become an impediment to the diversification
of development. Therefore, all the infrastructure build should have better
quality,” said Adhikari.
The
committee specifically pin-pointed to the slow progress at Kathmandu-Nijgadh
Fast Track, Nijgadh International Airport, and Pokhara and Bhairahawa Regional
International Airport, North-South highways, optical fibre expansion,
utilisation of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund, and improvement of the
Tribhuvan International Airport.
It
asked the relevant agencies and authorities to forge effective collaboration and
provide sufficient funds required.
The
house panel also asked the Office of the Prime Minister and Commission for the
Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to punish officials who do not
perform duties and neglect their responsibilities.
It
directed the government and the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation to
complete the Melamchi Water Supply Project by mid-March next year.
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