Tanahu (Damauli), Jan. 23:Minister for Housing and Physical Planning, and Labour Bal Bahadur K.C. says that the incumbent government has followed the policy guidelines of the Nepali Congress and the directions given by its leaders in letter and spirit, and to do so is its responsibility.
Addressing a party workers’ gathering organised by the Nepali Congress Tanahu district working committee here on Saturday, Minister K.C. said Nepali Congress is synonymous with its top leaders of the calibre of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala and that to understand them meant understanding the Nepali Congress.
He said that the Maoist insurgency was not the problem of the Nepali Congress party or the government alone but was a common national problem.
The government should take initiatives to address this problem and cooperation to this end should be forthcoming from all levels, he added.
The government has given top priority to resolving the problem of Maoist insurgency, Mr. K.C. said, adding presentation of the problem in an exaggerated manner and blowing it out of proportion sometimes gave him the impression that it is an attempt to drive the government to a tight spot.
Nepali Congress Tanahu district president Raghunath Poudel presided at the programme.
In Pokhara, Minister K.C. has said as a number of projects formulated could not be completed on appointed time on account of disputes over sources of water supply, the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning has already initiated preliminary steps to introduce a legal provision concerning sources of water.
Inaugurating here today a three-day workshop of the engineers of the districts organised by the Western Regional Directorate of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Minister K.C. said that the proposed provision would also bring coordination in Water Supply Projects launched by the governmental and non-governmental organisations and the corporation.
Hmg was committed to supplying water to all within the next five years and details in this regard would be prepared for all the 75 districts, he said, giving directives to the engineers to update the details once it was prepared.
The Water Supply Department itself had to take up the responsibilities of coordinating the task of water supply, he said, adding that the performances of the concerned technical personnel should be evaluated on the basis of a system of reward and punishment.
Director general of the Department of Water Supply Sohan Sundar Shrestha said that while implementing water supply schemes, the Department, Corporation and the national and international organisations should not duplicate each other’s programmes.
Speaking from the chair, regional director of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Vishwa Mani Gyawali was confident that the workshop would help resolve the problems encountered in the implementation of the projects.
Engineers working in the field of water supply in 16 districts are attending the workshop organised with the objective of bringing uniformity and resolving the problems in the project implemention.
Also in Pokhara, Minister K.C. has stressed the need to preserve the fewa lake, and properly manage and protect the natural heritage, local culture and greenary so as to maintain the beauty of Pokhara.
Minister K.C. was inaugurating an interaction programme on Pokhara Valley Town Development Council for integrated development organized by the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee here today. It is the people of Pokhara who should basically take the responsibility of keeping Pokhara city clean, he said, also calling for unity among all political parties and local representatives in achieving this goal.
The government is considering some assistance for improving the facilities at Pokhara Bus Park, he said.
MP Mahadev Gurung complained that a lack of coordination among Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Nepal Electricity Authority Office and Drinking Water Supply Corporation has resulted in digging of roads from time to time thereby hampering proper roads maintenance.
Kaski DDC chairman Pushpa Prasad Poudel was of the view that good coordination between the government and local bodies and a concerted effort sans political prejudice will only pave the way for the conservation and promotion of natural heritage of Pokhara.
Mayor of Pokhara Krishna Thapa stressed the need to properly utilize the locally available resources for the development of Pokhara valley.
Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Shaligram Poudel, advisor at the Industry Ministry Anandaraj Mulmi, deputy director general of Housing and Urban Development Department Purna Kadariya, member secretary of Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee Hemnath Sharma and Kaskikot VDC chairman Bhubaneshwor Subedi also put forth their views on how Pokhara valley can be developed.
Some 60 representatives from different sectors took part in the day-long interaction programme.