Govt policies and programs will be properly implemented: Minister Mahaseth

KATHMANDU, May 22: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, RaghubirMahaseth has clarified that the policies and programs unveiled by government are not intended for publicity butwere brought standing on the reality of the country. He added that the policies and programs will be properly implemented.

“These policies and programs have been introduced basing the ground reality. They are not intended for publicity,” said Mahaseth at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Tuesday.

Minister Mahasethalso accused the main opposition party Nepal Congress of not supporting the government’s policies and programs, which were unveiled on Monday.

Remembering that the ‘AfnoGaunAfaiBanau’ scheme introduced by Late communist leader ManamohanAdhikari in 2051 BS also received objection from the opposition, he claimed that the government has brought good policies and programs that were focused on constitution implementation, infrastructure development and economic prosperity.

“We need the opposition parties’ support in implementing and fulfilling the policies and programs,” he added.

He gave the example of the countries like China and Singapore and claimed that the Nepal Communist Party-led government had the will power to meet all the objectives and head the country toward prosperity.

He added, “We will successfully implement all the programs in time.”

“We will achieve the double digit economic growth in five year. We will complete all the ongoing and proposed hydropower projects, physical infrastructure without any delay,” added Mahaseth.

RaghubirMahaseth said the government new policies and programs have given priority to the road mapping, tunnel way and highway bridge constructions.

“The government, through its policies and programs, unveiled its targets of completing all the works relating to the construction of Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast Track, Mid-Hills Highway and Postal Highway within the next five years,” he said.

According to him, construction of the Madan Bhandari Highway from Shantinagar of Jhapa in east to Rupal of Dadeldhura in west to develop valleys of Chure and inner Madhes into economic and industrial corridors will be accelerated.

He pledged to connect the local-level centers with blacktopped roads, construct motorable roads alongside the rivers, start construction of Kathmandu-Birgunj-Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway, come up with legal, policy level and institutional provisions for operation of water transport on Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali rivers within the next five years.

On the occasion, he denied the reports that he ordered transfer of Rup Narayan Bhattarai, Director General of Department of Transport. “We have summonedBhattarai at the ministry. He has played a positive role in removing the monopoly in public transport sector,” he added.

“Eradicating syndicate from all sector is the agenda of government. It’s not only the agenda of Prime Minister Oli, Minister Mahaseth. It is also not true that only Bhattarai has made contribution in bringing down the syndicate in public transport.”

“I directed to end the syndicate after 15 days of assuming the office. And now, we have ended the transport monopoly. And we are committed to bring more reforms in the public transport sector and systematize it,” he furthered.

Also speaking on the occasion, Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat accused the government of bringing propagandist policies and programs and giving false assurances to the people. He ruled out the possibility of their implementation.