Kathmandu, Jan. 1: President of the Nepali Congress and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the prime concern today for a developing country like Nepal is to control the growth of population and implement the long term master plan with total commitment in order to attain the goal of poverty alleviation.
NC president Koirala was inaugurating a talk programme on the topic “The development dilemma: challenges and opportunities in the new millennium” organised here today by Cosmos Engineering Service.
Plans and policy should be formulated in keeping with the nation’s geographical and social conditions for making maximum use of the available means and resources and indigenous technology, he said adding, we all have to move ahead with integrity, courage and firm determination in the nation building task.
Referring to the new millennium as more challenging for all Nepalese, he expressed the view that with the commencement of the new millennium there should be innovative ideas and vision in every sphere of development.
On the occasion, Mr Koirala released a directive on irrigation published by Cosmos Engineering Service.
He also gave away presents to various persons for their valuable contributions in different social activities organised by the engineering service.
Ex-member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Bal Gopal Baidya said that development does not merely connote economic growth but also means social transformation and underlined the need for every Nepalese to change his mentality.
Chairman of the Society of Consulting Architectural and engineering forums Bada Lal Nyachhyain said that administrators and technicians here have to rely on alternative resources for the lack of adequate payment for labour and noted that strong policy, able government and positive social changes are the major challenges for the new millennium.
Director general of the Irrigation Department Ratneswar Lal Kayastha underlined the need for making the monitoring and assessment system for development projects stronger and more transparent and effective.
Earlier, Dr. Govinda Shaha of New Era, presenting a working paper, pointed out the need for optimum utilisation of human resource for sustainable development.
The paper also pointed out that uncontrolled population growth, unsystematic settlement, social inequality, regional imbalances, poverty and unemployment as the major obstacles and suggests that the government give special consideration to sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forests and bio-diversity.
Managing director of Cosmos Engineering Service Subodha Timilsina presided over the function at which manger of the service Sher Bahadur Misra call on all to be serious in facing the problems and challenges of the new millennium.