Left alliance unveils election manifesto: From Nepali-flag bearing ship to mono-rail
RAMESH LAMSAL
KATHMANDU, Nov 7: The left alliance has pledged to run a ship carrying the Nepali flag in the international waters by exercising the right to sea as a landlocked country.
This has been pledged in the manifesto released on Tuesday by the left alliance in view of the November 26 and December 7 elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.
Unveiling the manifesto, CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli expressed the determination to run a ship owned by landlocked Nepal at any cost.
The manifesto also promises to expand and upgrade the Tribhuvan International Airport, build the a modern international airport in Nijgadh within five years, complete the upgrading of the Gautam Buddha airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara airport within three and five years respectively.
The alliance that brings together the UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and other fringe communist parties also pledges to carry out feasibility study for internal and external water way in Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali rivers and in high-dam water reservoirs.
Likewise, under the heading, ‘water in arable land : investment in irrigation’, the manifesto pledges to enforce modern irrigation system in all the arable land in the country in five years and accelerate the construction of the ongoing projects like Tamor-Morang diversion, Sunkoshi-Kamala and Kaligandaki-Tinau diversion.
The alliance incorporates other initiatives as construction of dikes among the rivers in the Chure and Mahabharat area, power generation, irrigation and fishing, artificial lakes and ponds with rainwater harvesting, solar energy to promote irrigation, promotion of pasture, guarantee of five million tourists in ten years, establishment of tourism university and tourist guide trainings, construction of cable car and mono-rail.
Moreover, the alliance’s lofty plans are at least one industrial sector in each province, establishment of industries to ensure one million jobs in ten years, special tax cut in water, industrial village in each local level, exploration of mines, processing, production of clothes for the uniforms of Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, civil servants, doctors and health workers, teachers and students, production of medicines.
The major left parties are for gradually cutting the reliance on foreign aid.
On the occasion, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced that the manifesto was prepared with the aim of creating solid base for economic prosperity. It has aimed at ensuring per capita income of Rs 5,000 dollars in coming five years, he added.
According to him, various development experts, economists, sociologist and some former chairpersons of the National Planning Commission had provided inputs to the manifesto.
Free internet would be provided to all government facilities, while the foreign investment in media would be discouraged, mentioned the manifesto.