Govt's Policy and Programmes for FY 2019/20 unveiled

Kathmandu, May 3

 The government has unveiled its Policy and Programmes for the coming Fiscal Year 2019/20 with priority to infrastructure development, employment generation, creating national wealth and poverty reduction.

"The policy and Programmes have given priority to human capacity development, infrastructure building, entrepreneurship and employment generation, creation of national wealth, reduction of disparity and poverty, sustainable development and ecological preservation, peace, harmony, good governance and rule of law," President Bidya Devi Bhandari said while presenting the government document in the joint session of the Federal Parliament on Friday.

She said that the construction of the east-west electric railway would begin next year.

Similarly, the construction of Mid-Hill Highway, the Kathmandu-Terai Expressway and Postal Highway will be completed within next four years, she said.

The Jomsom-Korala section of Kali Gandaki Corridor would be upgraded to make it operational throughout the year, and opening track of all sections of Koshi and Karnali corridors will be completed within next year.

In its policy and programmes, the government claimed that the Melamchi Water Supply Project would be completed within the next fiscal year.

The project is in doldrums after its Italian developer CMS left the project in the middle and fled the country. The government is retendering the project.

It said that there would be significant progress in creating aviation infrastructure as well.

"Gautam Buddha International Airport will be operationalised within this year, and construction work will be expedited at the Pokhara Regional International Airport to bring it into operation by 2021. Construction of Nijgadh International Airport will also be commenced soon," read the document.

President Bhandari promised momentum at the 456-MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, Bheri-Babai Diversion Project, Rani Jamara Kularia Irrigation Project and Sikta Irrigation Project.

She said that socio-economic development and employment generation will get priority.

"My government will implement transformative policies and programmes to ensure a just socio-economic development by involving all Nepalis toward the attainment of national goals," she said.

"Employment opportunities will be created in the construction, manufacturing industries and service sectors. Additional 500,000 jobs will be created next year through the implementation of Prime Minister Employment Programme and in other public and private areas," she added.

The government has proposed to start commercial production of iron from the mine in Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi from the next fiscal year. Likewise, exploration and excavation work would be carried out in petroleum mine in Dailekh district, precious stones and copper mine in Jajarkot district, iron mine in Parbat and Tanahun districts, uranium mine in Mustang.

"Refinery for precious stone will be established and their export will be promoted," said President Bhandari.

There are plans for the branding of Nepali products in the international markets, developing cement as a major export product, executing Kathmandu by Night Programme, operating the Tribhuvan International Airport round the clock and constructing domestic airport near the Kathmandu Valley.

President Bhandari said that the country would have irrigation facility for about 90 per cent cultivable land within the next five-year plan.

Under-ground irrigation facility based on solar energy will be developed in the Terai in collaboration of subnational governments.

Likewise, construction of Sunkoshi-Marine Diversion Project will start next fiscal and feasibility of Madi-Dang Diversion Project will be completed next year and the construction will start in two years. River embankment projects across the country will also get priority.

Similarly, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of Birgunj-Kathmandu and Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu railways will be prepared and construction work will start within two years, read the policy document.

"Railway service will be made operational within the next fiscal year at Jayanagar-Bijalpur and from Bathnaha, India to Biratnagar. The construction of railway at Bijalpura-Bardibas segment will be completed," it said.

The government also pledged education, health and nutrition to children, skills, entrepreneurship and employment to youth and respect, protection and security to the elderly.

It plans to implement five-year plan of Digital Nepal Framework, an initiative to bring all kind of services and transactions to digital channel.

Similarly, expansion of broadband internet to all ward offices, health posts and community secondary schools will be completed next year. Each local level will have at least on doctor, said President Bhandari.

She said that to fill in the investment gap, small scattered capital would be collected through the mobilisation of mechanisms like collective finance, collective investment and venture capital.

The policy and programmes of the next fiscal commits to bring back the encroached land under the government control, simplify the land administration, complete the National Forest Resource Survey within a year.

Other programmes include online location checking of public vehicles using GPS technology, resettling the families that are in risk-prone areas in safer locations, starting construction of infrastructure in viable place to develop mega and smart cities, constructing conference centres with the capacity of 3,000 and 5,000 people, exporting of drinking water and conservation of watersheds.

There are also plans for the establishment of National Knowledge Park to promote industry and business-based on information technology, and to generate employment, promotion of cine-tourism, and establishment of technical schools in all local levels within two years.

"Skilled manpower that caters to the needs of the country will be developed by providing technical, vocational and life skills education. Facilities including start-up capital will be extended to the youth entrepreneurs for the operation of businesses," said President Bhandari.

 She also said that through the extension of fiscal services, additional 50,000 youth will be made self-employed within the next fiscal and additional 300,000 within next five years.

The President said that the foundations were laid for the double-digit growth.

"Encouraging results are seen from the implementation of the economic policies of my government. Over 6 per cent growth in last three years has laid foundation for the double digit growth. Increment of national savings by 27 per cent has created a solid base for capital formation," she said.

According to her, the 15^th Plan with the long-term vision for the next 25 years will be implemented with the budget for the next fiscal year and sectoral programmes will be implemented in alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs).

She said that the proposed 'policy and programmes' made the commitment to attaining the SDGs and make Nepal a middle income country by 2030.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 May 2019.