Kathmandu, Jan. 30
The
Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal (FCAN) has halted all of its
protest programmes following the positive talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma
Oli on Wednesday evening.
The
umbrella organisation of the construction entrepreneurs in the country had
announced protest programmes from Tuesday, January 28, as decided by their
national assembly held a couple of weeks ago..
Following a discussion between PM Oli and the FCAN
delegation, the Prime Minister issued directions to form a task force to
address its demands, the FCAN informed in a statement on Thursday.
"Given the positive outcome of the discussions,
the federation has decided to suspend
all pre-announced protest programmes with immediate effect," read the
statement.
They had
been protesting with a 14-point demand to address the persistent challenges in the
construction industry. As per their announcement, the provincial construction
federations submitted memorandums to their respective chief ministers, while
district construction associations presented them to the Chief District
Officers (CDOs).
Likewise, at the central level, the Federation
submitted memorandums to the
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, leaders of major political
parties, and chairpersons of various parliamentary committees.
According to the FCAN, the construction industry is
facing severe challenges due to rising
costs of construction materials primarily cement, delayed government payments,
and the Nepal Rastra Bank’s decision to cut financial facilities previously
provided to the sector.
The FCAN was planning to organise a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala for Friday, a demonstration outside the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar on Sunday, and from Monday, they were to block the key border points. In case of failure to address their demands, the construction entrepreneurs would halt their work at all construction sites including the national pride projects.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 January 2025.
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