So far, 10 industries employing more than 500 workers and another 40 industries employing more than 100 workers have already approached the Ministry of Industry (MoI) demanding that the government fulfill its promises, said an official there.[break]
However, the ministry has only disappointed them. “Given the lack of response from concerned ministries, we doubt whether the programs will be implemented at all this year,” said the source.
Under the programs, the government had promised to set up a sub health post staffed with health workers and a police post manned by five police personnel equipped with weapons in manufacturing industries employing more than 500 workers.
Similarly, the government had also offered to construct black topped roads, expand electrical grids and waterline linking the industrial areas so as to boost investors’ confidence and spur investment.
“The problem with the programs is that they were chalked out without consulting the concerned ministries,” said the source. Moreover, the government had neither formed a mechanism for the implementation of the programs nor allocated budget.
“We communicated with the home ministry, ministry of health and population, and ministry of physical planning asking them to jointly implement the program,” said Yam Kumari Khatiwada, joint secretary and spokesperson at the ministry of industries. “However, only the home ministry has responded to us so far,” she told Republica. The home ministry has agreed to set up police posts and deploy security personnel in the industries. But it has also raised questions over the budget for the construction and deployment of security personnel.
Suresh Kumar Basnet, president of NCC, vented ire against the government for not implementing the programs announced in the budget. “It is really shameful that the program has hit a roadblock due to the lack of coordination between the ministries,” said he.
Related story
Cement, steel industries in trouble as demand stagnates
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
