PM Oli for advancing national pride projects

Kathmandu, Nov 24: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his concern whether the proposed and ongoing national pride projects were intensified in a planned manner.

He showed interest in the progress of these projects during a discussion with ministers, secretaries and chiefs of the projects.     

In the discussion held in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar on Sunday, PM Oli garnered information about 24 national pride projects, their financial and physical progress, problems plaguing the undertakings and possible measures for resolving problems.     

Problems relating to lack of assurance of financial resources, low or inadequate budget, land acquisition, felling of trees in the project site, natural disasters such as flood and landslide, procedural hassles, compensation dispute and lawsuits among others were identified as hurdles in effective implementation of the projects.     

PM Oli was briefed that among those 24 mega projects, Melamchi Drinking Water Project and the Pashupati Area Development Trust had achieved 80 per cent progress while Mid-Hill Highway, Postal Highway, South North Koshi Corridor, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Facilities, Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project and the Lumbini Development Trust among others witnessed 50 to 60 per cent development.     

He was apprised that the projects posting dismal progress (less than 10 per cent) were Budhigandaki Hydro Power Project, Paschim Seti Hydropower Project and Nijgadh International Project.     

In the discussion, the Head of the Government asked the project chiefs how those projects could be given impetus and what the new and notable works or significant breakthrough were in those projects since he assumed the government leadership last mid-July.     

Oli saw the need for accelerating those projects with a fresh approach that incorporates new and innovative thinking. While delivering on those mega projects, the PM urged to mull how the country could be made self-reliant by boosting domestic productions in the key potential areas.     

Present in the event were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak, Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Devendra Dahal.     

Other attendees included Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister of Defence Manbir Rai, Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, and Minister for Drinking Water Pradeep Yadav, among others.     

Likewise, the discussion saw participation of PM's economic advisor Dr Yuwaraj Khatiwada, National Planning Commission's Vice-Chairperson Prof Dr Shivaraj Adhikari, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, secretaries of the aforesaid ministries and chiefs of the national pride projects.(RSS)