We will build corruption-free province: CM Baniya

By Ram Mani Dahal,Makwanpur, Aug. 26: Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya has said that the current provincial government is committed to maintaining good governance and building a corruption-free Bagmati province.

He said that the new government would work responsibly towards the people and that they have not formed it with the intention of deceiving and begging. 

Speaking at a programme organised by the Contractors Association Makawanpur in Hetauda on Monday to welcome and honour the newly appointed Chief Minister and ministers of Bagmati Province, CM Baniya urged the construction entrepreneurs to complete the work they have taken on in a timely manner and in accordance with the Procurement Act and regulations. 

Stating that the government is supposed to provide services to the people and the state is supposed to alleviate the suffering of the people, he said that the current government would sincerely engage in healing the wounds of people of all classes, castes and creeds. 

He said that he is leading the current government after overcoming a difficult situation within his own party, and that the current government was formed with the aim of working. 

He stated that he did come to lead the government not with the aim of cheating and begging. He further said that due to the practice of lowering the contract prices, contractors have become poor, and they tend to sign contracts at any cost. 

"Mobilisation is needed. For mobilisation, the practice of signing contracts at any cost has increased, and the Public Procurement Act needs to be amended, "he said.

Urging construction entrepreneurs to complete the work on time in a transparent manner, Chief Minister Baniya said, "We should not run away with mobilisation, but go to work. Construction entrepreneurs must work in a way that they are respected, and the provincial government is ready to respect them." He clarified that the provincial government is firm on the principle of ending the trend of spending the development budget in the 11th month of the fiscal year. 

The provincial assembly has passed a resolution that physical infrastructure construction work worth more than Rs. 1 million will be done through a tender process, he said. "Now, construction entrepreneurs will not face a dearth of contract. Work worth more than Rs. 1 million will no longer be done by the consumer committee," he said.

 Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Madhusudan Poudel emphasised that construction entrepreneurs should complete the construction work assigned to them on time.

He urged the contractors to follow professional ethics and said that the success and failure of the current government lies in the hands of construction entrepreneurs, and they should work honestly. He said that since the provincial government is the government of all, it will help in resolving the just problems of construction entrepreneurs. At the programme, Association President Balgopal Kandel highlighted the problems faced by construction entrepreneurs, including not receiving payment on time for completed work, and demanded formulation of a construction industry-friendly law.

Former president of the association Khadga Gopali and senior vice president Sagar Katuwal demanded that the government should create an environment where construction entrepreneurs can work easily. 

Minister for Drinking Water, Energy and Irrigation Krishna Kumar Tamang and Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Bin Rayamajhi Poudel were also present at the programme.