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House committee shows concern over slow progress of national pride projects



National Assembly

KATHMANDU, Oct 12: As the first quarter of the current fiscal year is about to pass, only 6.11 percent of the total allocated budget has been spent for the national pride projects.

At a discussion program organized by the Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament on Thursday, Chief of Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance Kebal Prasad Bhandari said that only Rs 3.88 billion has been spent till October 11 (25th Asoj) out of Rs 63.7 billion allocated for the projects of the national pride in the current fiscal year.

The Ministry said that progress of five projects of national pride is nil.

During the meeting, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev said that the construction works of Gautam Buddha International Airport, one of the national pride projects, has not moved ahead due to dispute between the main construction Chinese company and its subsidiary Nepali company.

“The bidding process for Nijgadh International Airport is going to begin. The works of Pokhara International Airport has been started. The tasks on projects of national pride have not moved ahead due to lack of coordination among ministries. This has been developed as a trend and a ministry does not help another,” Dev said.

On the occasion, President of the Committee Rabindra Adhikari directed the Office of the Prime Minister, all ministries and bodies concerned to expedite the construction works of the national pride projects.

The Committee has also directed the government to end the lapses seen in the construction of such projects and end the lack of means and resources.

Likewise, the Committee has directed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority to immediately book those officials not fulfilling the responsibility.

At the meeting, lawmakers Ram Chandra Pokharel, Prakash Sharma Poudel, Ganesh Pahadi, Guru Prasad Burlakoti, Mohan Baniya and Shanta Manawi said that Act should be amended to make them development friendly. RSS

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