Govt stresses on integrated infrastructure development

Kathmandu, Aug 8

The government announced to create policy provision whereby the contractors would be responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure projects for the five-year period after completion.

The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the coalition government made public on Sunday, took this measure to end the delay in infrastructure construction and ensure sustainable and quality development of such facilities.

According to the CMP, prepared by a task force led by Purna Bahadur Khadka and endorsed by the government, an integrated plan would be prepared including land transport, aviation, rail, ship and cable car to strengthen and manage the transport service.

Priority would be given to the expansion work of East-West Highway to four lanes and Ring Road in Kathmandu to eight lanes, and work would be expedited. Feasibility study would be undertaken to create a high-tech city somewhere at the centre of the country.

The government has emphasized on creating tourism infrastructure. A relief package targeting the rehabilitation of the tourism sector, which is worst-hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic, would be announced immediately.

Likewise, industrial security would be maintained, read the CMP. It has pledged to reform the fiscal and monetary policies to develop the banking and finance sector, waive-off bank interest for the endangered enterprises and create an environment to operate the sick industries in a profitable manner. 

“Financial access, registration and taxation for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will be increased and their access to the market would be enhanced,” read the CMP.

As per the common programme, the government would ensure minimum price to the farmers for their produces and their risks would be minimized through agricultural insurance.

The government said that infrastructure development and other economic programmes will be implemented in coordination with the private and cooperatives sector.

Likewise, it pledged priority to pass all the pending bills related to economic sector within a three-month period from now.

 A special policy for the human resource development would be implemented at the federal, provincial and local level, and attention would be given to the proper utilisation of natural resources including water, forest and herbs, and enhancement of productivity, read the programme.

The CMP has also included the river diversion and lift irrigation, river embankment, land to the landless and their social upliftment, and integrated implementation of utility services infrastructure like water supply, sewerage, electricity and communication.

It said that concrete steps would be taken to preserve bio-diversity and people’s right to environment. The CMP has announced that natural resources would be saved from excessive exploitation for profits.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 August 2021.