Disappointing progress of development projects: NPC

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: A meeting of the national development problems solution committee held at the National Planning Commission (NPC) reviewed the government´s development projects and concluded that development projects were not implemented as per the quarterly goal.



The government has, in the current fiscal year, allocated Rs 3,440 billion through various ministries for 228 projects on the basis of first priority.[break]



At the meeting, Committee Chairperson and Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai urged the concerned ministers to take the implementation of the projects seriously, reasoning the progress report of the projects was very disappointing.



It was sheer irresponsibility on the part of the NPC to be unaware about the 42 projects on the first priority, he said, directing the concerned sides to find its reason and report on it within a week.



Similarly, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai said it was quite disappointing that only 14 per cent of the budget allocated was released for capital expense in four months. He questioned why the budget was not spent.



The Prime Minister directed the ministers to study the projects recording below 50 per cent progress by devising the policy of reward and punishment.



Moreover, he said the trend of imposing projects from higher levels should be ended and thereby making decision from the district council for the projects.



"Let´s not repeat the mistakes in the next quarter," he warned.



However, most of the ministers speaking at the meeting pointed out to the delay in budget release, frequent transfer of employees, lack of qualified and technical human resource, lack of inter-ministry coordination, absence of secretaries in some 500 VDCs, problems of awarding compensation to land while constructing and widening road and lack of doctors and health workers as obstacles to acceleration of the development projects.



On the occasion, Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said confusion loomed large after the Supreme Court allowed construction of overhead bridge, but the Public Accounts Committee decided against it.



Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Lokendra Bistamagar said new radar was necessary at the Tribhuvan International Airport to meet the needs for the next 20 years. And this would require Rs 1 billion, he said.



Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said capital expense in the development projects only one third while foreign currency reserve was 370 million rupees and revenue growth by 22 per cent.



NPC Vice-Chairman, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri had presented the progress reports in the meeting.

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