Road and energy priorities of Province 2: CM Raut

BARDIBAS, May 20: Chief Minister of Province 2, Lalbabu Raut has said that road connectivity and energy development were the top priorities for development of the province.

CM Raut, in his address to an inaugural session of the two-day policy-level discussions on development structures of province 2 organized in Bardibas, Mahottari on Sunday, said that the province 2 lagged behind in terms of human development index and development and promotion of road connectivity and energy sector would help pave the way for overall development.

“The province has abundant potentialities for development of tourism and is rich in fertile land,” he said, underlining the need of exploring and utilizing such possibilities for the welfare of province and its people.

He opined that corruption was a barrier to development and good governance. He took the time to give his words for adopting a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.

The Chief Minister of the province– comprising eight Tarai/Madhes districts from Saptari in the east to Parsa in the west– addressed the event in Nepali language.

Also speaking on the occasion, province minister for Physical Infrastructure, Jitendra Sonal, said the province was not in the position of operating its activities in-full-gear as the formation of its subordinate bodies granted by the constitution was yet to be completed.

Provincial Policy Commission Vice-chair Dr Haribansha Jha, Physical Infrastructure Development (province government) Secretary Kaushal Kishore Jha, National Planning Commission’s former Vice-chair Swarnim Wagle, former member Dr Arbind Mishra, energy expert Surendra Rajbhandari and Postal Highway Project’s Chief Shyam Kharel were present in the program.