Kathmandu, June 28: CPN-UML’s Pradip Kumar Nepal, speaking during discussions on the appropriation heads concerning the Ministry of Water Resources, and Works and Physical Planning at the House of Representatives today, said the government is not yet clear about whether power generation is solely for domestic use or for export also, the negative impact of the private sector involvement in power generation is yet to be assessed, bigger hydropower projects are not result-oriented, scientific solutions should be sought to the leakage of electricity and power projects usually get aborted in the middle of its operation.

Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Arjun Prasad Joshi of the NC spoke of the need of a long-term plan for tapping the vast water resources in the country, to bring the agreement on power purchase reached with India into the House for ratification, think of the eight ongoing projects before generating electricity, ensure multi-use of electricity and irrigation, adopt transparency while selecting projects and place emphasis on river control and the underground irrigation project.

Ramchandra Raya and Renu Kumari Yadav of Rastriya Prajatantra Party observed that the fund allocated for transport is not enough, MPs’ suggestions and recommendations have not been taken into account, road repairs should be carried out in Rajbiraj municipality, attention given to constructing Hulaki or postal roads in Terai, and river control works carried out.

Rajendra Mahato of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party remarked that Terai has been ignored in the budget and river control work should be carried out in Sarlahi district.

Hari Acharya of the Rastriya Janamorcha noted that smaller projects are better than bigger ones, people of Dang-Deukhuri are going to be inundated by the construction of Bhim Dam by India and attention should be given to the impact of the Kaligandaki “A”, Melamchi and Jhimruk hydropower project on the local people.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party said the budget is not balanced, the budget allocated for Bhaktapur district has gone to another district, a long-term national policy on water resources should be formulated and smaller projects should be given priority.

Sohan Prasad Chaudhary and Dharmanath Prasad Shaha of the CPN-UML complained that low budget has been allocated for roads, drinking water, bridges and river control works in Banke Constituency No. 2, it is paradoxical that a rich country in water resources is in crisis of water, majority of the people are still forced to depend on sky water and the government has failed in river control works.

RPP’s Buddhiman Tamang said budgets should be increased for different roads in Dhading district, villages along the Prithvi Highway should be linked wtih electricity and drinking water problem solved.

CPN-UML’s Ganga Prasad Nepal and Nara Bahadur Budhathoki noted that attention should be given to rural electrification, irrigation should be given emphasis and projects should be in the interests of the Nepali people, adding that projects recommended by the district council and MPs have been removed and no attention has been given to irrigation, drinking water and road projects.

CPN-UML’s Ram Chandra Yadav, Bijaya Subba, Tarasam Yangya and Bhadra Bahadur Thapa said the budget allocated for installation of tubewells is quite inadequate, no budget has been allocated for Lahan-Thadi road in Siraha, adequate budget should be allocated for Chhatedhunga-Biruwa-Parewa river irrigation project, extension of Basantapur-Terhathum 33 KV transmission line, attention has not been given to river control works in Palpa.

Yog Narayan Yadav, Dan Bahadur Chaudhari, Pradip Kumar Gyawali and Lalbabu Pandit, also of CPN-UML, stressed the need to pay due attention to the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway, allocate adequate budget for deep tubewell programme in Kapilvastu and make the Morang-Sunsari irrigation project beneficial to the farmers.

Likewise, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Til Kumar Meyangbo and Birodh Khatiwada spoke of the need to construct Hisa-Simikot, Martadi-Simikot and Jumla-Surkhet roads, launch rural electrification programme in Taplejung and include Makwanpur in the eighth electrification plan.

CPN-UML’s Damber Singh Sambahamphe, Sushila Nepal and Gokarna Raj Bista said the budget does not mention construction of ADB-assisted drinking water projects in rural areas, electricity leakage should be controlled to avoid load shedding, special precautionary measures should be taken to control inundation caused by rivers, transmission and distribution of electricty should be efficient, the criteria for roads should be fixed and attention should be given to possible damage in Nepal due to dam or embankment constructed in neighbouring India.

MPs Hitkaji Gurung, Fatik Bahadur Thapa and Sherdhan Rai, also of the same party were of the view that majority of the people are suffering due to lack of safe drinking water and electricity facilities in a country very rich in water resources, Ministry of Water Resources along with the ministry for physical planning and works are the most corrupted, the rural electrification policy in not clear, development programmes should be carried in VDCs affected by the Kaligandaki ‘A’ project and attention should be given to using Arun and Sunkoshi river in Bhojpur district to fulfill the scarcity of land route in the district.

Likewise, Pashupati Chaulagain, Prem Bahadur Singh, Subash Karmacharya and Devilal Thapa, also of the CPN-UML, said every contruction work of the country is affected by corruption, irregularities and commission mongering, Karnali zone is yet to be linked by motorable road, the amount allocated last year for the Surkhet-Jumla road has not be used, the amount received from hydel projects should be used in the development of the districts concerned and the land falling under the Melamchi drinking water project should be compensated.

Nara Bahadur Hamal of the CPN-UML said the Ministry of Water Resources has been the most corrupt ministry, only Rs 6,800,000 has been allocated for the ungoing and new drinking water projects, and the drinking water projects in municipality have been neglected and demanded increase in budget for the Surkhet-Dailekh road.

Som Prasad Pandey of the same party said the attitude of increasing the cost of electricity production should be stopped, the Tinau river should be controlled to protect the Madiphant, budget should be increased for Dumre-Batase road and the Arya Bhanjyang- Rampur road should be blacktopped.

Tirtha Gautam of the same party said small hydel projects should be given emphasis in Rukum district and expressed anger over the allocation of less budget for roads in Bijeswori VDC and cancellation of the Asimkot, Dandagaun irrigation projects.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the same party said a 61 KM road should be built from Malekhu to Bhandara, the 19 KM Kathmandu-Sitapaila-Dharke alternate road should be constructed, bridges should be built in Daringal, Syadul, Tundikhola and demanded the completion of irrigation facilities in the fertile land of Richoktar and Bishaltar within this year. He warned of transport strike if electricity is not distributed in the settlements along the Prithvi Highway by July 5.

Basant Kumar Nemwang of the CPN-UML said the electricity has been very expensive, the Modi Khola project should be completed in time, five megawatt projects should be classified under small hydel project in the electricity act.

Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar of the same party said we don’t have water resources development policy, India should not be allowed to build embankments in the Rapti, five entry points should be opened along the northern border, more budget should be allocated for the Bishnumati link road, road to Matatirtha and Changunarayan should be built and the government should be serious about the Melamchi drinking water project.