MCC's Timely Execution

Now that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project has entered into its implementation phase, ensuring its timely completion is crucial. Needless to say, the more time a project takes to complete, the more cost overruns, among other difficulties, it has to face. The project bodes well for Nepal's power transmission infrastructure, road connectivity, and eventually, economic development and prosperity. This project is going open the door for export of surplus electricity, which the nation has already started to generate. With the MCC Chief Executive Officer, Alice Albright, stating that the project has accepted and agreed to the 12-point interpretative declaration adopted by the Nepali parliament, it has addressed geopolitical concerns raised by some political parties and various civil society organisations. This has fostered trust and a sense of cooperation, creating an environment conducive for the project to go ahead unhindered.   

The MCC project has two components: electricity transmission and road maintenance. The former will build 312 km of 400kV electricity transmission lines and three substations and provide technical assistance for the power sector. The latter, on the other hand, aims to enhance current practices in the maintenance of the country's strategic road networks and will provide technical assistance to the Department of Roads and Roads Board Nepal. The goal is to increase the reliability as well as availability of electricity and lower the cost of transportation in Nepal. Besides, the project is expected to lower the road accidents and travel time with the construction of quality roads. 

Once bottlenecks in the transportation sector – such as unreliable, disaster-prone and shoddy roads – are sorted out, it paves a way for merchandise or finished products on the supply side to reach the market, raising hopes of prosperity and poverty reduction. The fact that it has come at a time when the global economy is facing headwinds deserves unwavering support from all sides concerned. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's assurance that the government is committed to this crucial project's timely completion and unflinching support until its completion has lifted the spirits for advancing works in war footing.  

When the $697 million project achieves its goal, the nation will be able to address the current problems in power transmission and distribution system. With neighbouring India agreeing to purchase 10,000 megawatts of electricity in the coming 10 years from Nepal and Bangladesh also keen to import it, our concerns over what to do with the surplus power generation has been allayed. The availability of abundant electricity will bolster the country's industrialisation effort to manufacture goods in demand in both national and international markets, helping us earn much-needed foreign currency as well as substitute the import of petroleum products which is draining billions from the country every month. 

For all the benefits we are going to reap, there are some concerns. First, in an effort to clear the path for the construction work, many trees are going to be cut, raising both environmental and climate concerns. Concrete efforts should be made to do the least damage to forested areas. Second, the project should not let the affected people down. Their participation and involvement in the project works need to be ensured. As well as benefiting them in line with their expectation, the land compensation deal should leave no room for lingering resentment. This is critical because it can cast a shadow over the project in unforeseen ways. The project is in the interest of all, so supporting it with whatever means we can is everyone's responsibility.