Separate legislation for national pride projects demanded

Kathmandu, Sept 18: National Assembly (NA) members have called for separate legislations for national pride projects.

In today’s meeting of the Federalism Enablement and National Concerns Committee under the NA, the parliamentarians urged the government to introduce dedicated legislations that would contribute towards timely implementation of such projects.

The meeting deliberated on the problems and challenges with the ongoing national pride projects including Mahakali Irrigation, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation, Bheri Babai Diversion and Sikta Irrigation among others.

Committee member Krishna Bahadur Rokaya rued that government frequently announces the national pride projects but in lack of adequate financial resources (budget), those pride projects often stall.

He thus underscored specific legislation to solve this problem.

Similarly, other members Indira Joshi Gautam, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota and Gopal Bahadur Sarki Achhami among others voiced their concern over the increased cost for these projects due to delays and dillydally in implementing these projects.

During the meeting, Sarita Dawadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation shared that the Sikta Irrigation Project had witnessed 41.58 per cent of physical progress and 40.62 per cent of financial progress so far.

She divulged that the budget allocated for such projects are inadequate and forewent transfer of the project’s Heads and other staffers had been impeding the progress of such projects.