By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 17: Minister for Defence Dr. Minendra Rijal has said that inter-ministerial coordination, cooperation and collaboration is essential for the timely completion of national pride projects with assurance of quality.
Delivering concluding remarks after the meeting of the first quarterly progress review of the current fiscal year 2021/22 and Ministerial Development Action Committee (MDAC) on Monday, Minister Dr. Rijal directed the participating representatives from various ministries to act responsibly considering the seriousness of the issues raised in the review.

"What the ministry said today, what the delegates from different ministries heard, what they said, had to have the same understanding among the officials of line ministries. Only then can we give quality results in time,” he said.
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhu Ram Sharma clarified that the projects under the management of the army would not be delayed or irregular.

He said, "The trend of giving responsibility of development works to Nepali Army without provision of budget should end. The army is providing all possible assistance to the people after the disasters in different parts of the country." The Defence University is the honour and prestige of not only the army but also the State.”
Member of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, said that the responsibility of construction of the Fast Track Project (Expressway) has been given to the NA because of its successful exercise.
He said that the work done by the Ministry of Defence should be refined and specialised. It is necessary to support the construction of the Defence University at all levels, he noted.

Secretary at the Ministry Begendra Raj Sharma said that it was necessary to ensure at least predictable budget for projects including those of national pride. "The University should be given responsibility according to budget certainty, timely authority, multi-year project approval and facilitation in clearing the arrears, military expertise and professionalism," he said.
Balananda Sharma, Chairman of the Defence University Infrastructure Development Committee, urged for timely acquisition of 100 ropanis of land within the demarcation area of ​​the University, widening of access roads and provision of budget for the remuneration of the officials appointed to the Committee.

On the occasion, representatives of the Ministries of Finance, Federal Affairs and General Administration, Forest and Environment, Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management and National Planning Commission pledged their support and cooperation for the timely completion of national pride and other development projects under the Ministry of Defence.
On the occasion, Chief of the Nepali Army Engineering Directorate Sharad Lal Shrestha and Bikas Pokhrel, Chief of the Fast Track Project, urged to manage budget for the projects including Karnali Corridor and Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway Project.

The overall financial progress of the expressway project is 14.51 per cent and physical progress stands at 16.10 per cent. The estimated cost of the Expressway project is Rs. 175.19 billion including VAT. The budget expenditure so far is Rs. 25.39 billion.
During the review, Dr. Baburam Adhikari, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, informed that the Ministry had received a budget of Rs. 56.54 billion for the current fiscal year and so far its expenditure progress stood at 27.67 per cent.

During the review, the Ministry made presentations on the difficulties in land acquisition for the Expressway in Khokna area of Lalitpur, the complexity of tree management, the non-acceptance of the Defence University as a multi-year project, the need to pay special attention to settle the remaining arrears and ensuring budget as per the multi-year plan.

Important projects and programmes including the Expressway, construction of five different road projects, construction of Defence University, protection of President Chure-Terai Madhes, protection and development of historical forts and dams, bunker to barracks are in execution under the Ministry.