Secretary at the ministry of finance, Dr Bhoj Raj Ghimire, has said that there has been delays in implementing Asian Development Bank (ADB) sponsored development projects due to ‘conflict and other snags’.

Speaking at a programme organized to distribute awards given by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ghimire said development projects have suffered from a ‘slow implementing process’.

Three project teams were awarded by ADB’s field office in Nepal for Outstanding Project Management Performance this year.

Dr Ghimire presented awards to the representatives of Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Teachers Education Project and Rural Microfinance Project, assisted by the ADB.

He offered administrative help to those development projects to keep them going at a full swing for better productivity and to generate impressive results. He said that delayed implementation had incurred millions of rupees in losses and would incur more losses if serious heed was not paid in time. Dr Ghimire asked ADB for help to cope with budgetary difficulties.

A press statement issued by the ADB said, the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project is improving water supply and sanitation conditions in 31 new small towns with average population of about 18,000. As a follow up to ADB’s Primary Education Development Project, the Teachers Education Project is assisting the Government in improving the quality and efficiency of basic education through better qualified teachers. Likewise, the Rural Microfinance Project, receiving its fourth NRM award, is improving the socio-economic status of women by building skills, providing credit for income generating activities, and strengthening microfinance institutions.

“ADB’s assistance is focused on results on the ground,” the statement quoted ADB’s Nepal Country Director Sultan Hafeez Rahman as saying. “So we appreciate the efforts made by project teams and the government agencies involved in reducing poverty and enhancing development results,” he added.