Karnali lawmakers call for province’s priority in upcoming budget

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Apr. 30: Fourteen parliamentarians representing Karnali Province in the Federal Parliament jointly demanded that Karnali should be given priority in the upcoming budget.

They met with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and submitted a plan for the development of the province that is lagging in economic as well as human development indices. 

In the memorandum submitted to the PM, the MPs have mentioned that Karnali Province is the only province that is still far behind in terms of overall development compared to other provinces of Nepal. 

They said that emphasis should be placed on increasing agricultural production and employment for the long-term development of the province. For it, there is a need to widen and organise the agricultural production, herbs and small scale industries of Karnali Province, to establish Karnali microfinance bank and implement a provision of subsidised loans. 

Urging to make a policy decision to minimise poverty and unemployment of Karnali and to increase the per capita income, and to conduct a special programme for self-employment and poverty reduction, the parliamentarians requested additional Rs. 5 billion budget for the same.

They demanded special budget allocation for upgrading the Karnali Corridor to two lanes and black topping it, blacktopping of Rara-Gamgadhi-Nagche-Lagna road, Simikot-Limi road and Bheri Corridor up to Dolpa Dho, upgrading of Rapti Highway’s Amiliya-Salyan section and Rukum Khaula to Chrebagar Bheri Corridor, and construction of the remaining part of Jajarkot-Toplaghudari Tunnel. 

Other projects of importance according to the MPs are Madan Bhandari Road, Surkhet Panchkoshi, Sinja to Mansarobar Road, Surkhet Ring Road construction, blacktopping of various sections of midhill highway, Manma-Kodbada cable car, Surkhet-Dailekh-Mahabu-Jumla road, and Jajarkot-Dunai-Tinje Dho road.

Similarly, it has been requested to arrange the budget for the construction of Karnali Institute of Health Sciences, medical college in Surkhet, construction of a 100-bed trauma centre and hospital in Kanali Rak, and the construction of the Sinja Civilization Khas Museum. 

Parliamentarians Janardan Sharma (Prabhakar), Hridaya Ram Thani, Dikpal Kumar Shahi, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Amar Bahadur Thapa, Kantika Sejuwal, Maina Karki, Dhan Bahadur Budha, Ain Bahadur Shahi, Sita Kumari Rana, Surya Kumari Shrestha, Chhiring Lhamu Lama Tamang, Kalpana Miya and Chandra Bahadur Bishwokarma were in the delegation. 

In order to provide quality education by managing the digital board and the physical development of all high schools in Karnali Province, develop human resources in education and health, and create infrastructure for district, municipal and ward hospitals,  necessary budget has been requested. 

Karnali parliamentarians also requested to capitalise on the great potential in Karnali tourism. 

The parliamentarians have also demanded the necessary budget to prepare the necessary infrastructure to attract tourists to Se Phoksundo, Sarahatara, high human settlements in mountains, lakes, biological diversity and Sinja. 

A request has also been made for the establishment of a comprehensive herb research and processing centre in the provincial capital and implement programmes for commercial herb cultivation. Likewise, Rs. 5 billion budget arrangement has been requested to include the coastal areas of Karnali, Thuli Bheri, and Saniveri rivers in the national river control project programmes.