Kathmandu, June 30: The House of Representatives continued discussions on the appropriation heads concerning the Ministry of Water Resources, Physical Planning and Public Works at its meeting ther othe day.
Taking part in the discussions, Suresh Kumar Karki of the CPN-UML complained that although over Rs 95 million has been spent for construction of the Sagarmatha highway, the construction work was hardly making any progress.
He demanded construction of the Gaighat-Diktel road, construction of a bridge over the Trijuga River, completion of the Fattehpur-Gaighat road, construction of an alternative bridge over the Saptakoshi River and electrification in terai areas of Udayapur district.
Dilliraj Khanal, also of the CPN-UML, said the budget lacked concrete programmes for the development of the hydropower, irrigation, drinking water and transport sectors. He complained budgetary allocations have not been sufficiently made in those sectors, for the formulation of a master plan on river control and irrigation development.
The budget lacks strategic planning and thinking on development projects, he said, adding there were a number of problems in the drinking water sector and that rural electrification should be extended to Arghakhanchi district.
CPN-UML’s Prakash Jwala called for giving priority to the construction of the Rukum-Salyan highway, construction of the Devsthal-Chaurajahari road and the Khalanga-Tharmare road. Similarly he demanded implementation of the Mulkhola and Jhimke Khola Hydel Projects, utilisation of the Bhagdor irrigation system in Tharmare and implementation of a drinking water project in Khalanga.
Om Prasad Ojha of the same party said it was unfortunate that only 20 per cent of the total national population could enjoy irrigation, hydroelectricity and drinking water facilities in a country which is second only to Brazil in terms of existence of water resources. He underlined the need for formulating a long term water resources development policy and giving priority to smaller projects than mega projects.
Jagdish Prasad Saha, also of the CPN-UML, called for the proper implementation of the Sunkoshi-Kamala diversion project, installation of deep tube wells for irrigation purpose in Kalyanpur and Inaruwa VDCs, construction of the Rupani-Gaighat road and increment of budgetary allocations for the repair of the postal road.
Mahendra Bahadur Pandey of the same party demanded black-topping of the Trishuli Bhanjyang-Bhurung road, rural electrification, construction of irrigation projects in areas lacking irrigation facility and providing drinking water facilities in all the VDCs.
Shiva Bahadur Deuja of the CPN-UML said the allocations made in the budget for different ministries were discriminatory. He demanded increase in funds for the construction of the Dhulikhel-Dapcha road and the Sunkoshi-Gadtir road, implementation of the Dapcha Drinking Water Project and initiating river control works on the Sunkoshi river at Lamobagar.
Kamal Prakash Sunuwar of the same party demanded one per cent share in the total power generated from the Khimti Khola Hydroelectricity Power Project to local people, providing compensation to people affected by the project, implementation of the 25-megawatt Khimti-1 project and speeding up the construction of the Pushpalal Highway in Ramechhap district.
Jagan Nath Khatiwada of the CPN-UML demanded flood control measures be initiated in Udayapur district, the district which is better known for frequent floods and landslides, budgetary allocations be increased for the Katari-Chatara-Gaighat road and the Katari-Okhaldhunga road, electrification be carried out in VDCs lacking electricity and construction of drains in Katari Bazaar.
Kunta Sharma of the same party pointed out that majority of the people in the country were deprived of potable drinking water facilities, that only 15 per cent of the people enjoyed electricity and 71 per cent of the total cultivable land did not have irrigation.
She complained that the numerous rivers and streams flowing through the country are under the control of foreign countries and the budgetary allocations for road development were disproportionate. The MP demanded proper development of historical sites in the district like Bishnupaduka, Baraha Chhetra and other areas.
Ananda Prasad Pokharel of the CPN-UML called for rural electrification in different parts of Dolakha district, construction and repair of irrigation canals, repair of the Jiri-Lamosangu road and construction of the Sunkoshi-Sanga road.
Chandra Bahadur Shahi of the same party called for the extension of irrigation facility in different parts of Mugu district, completion of incomplete projects and construction of road linking Mugu district with Tibet. He also demanded that the government be serious about expediting the work on the Surkhet-Jumla road.
Ratna Prasad Sharmaneupane of the CPN-UML complained budgetary allocations for drinking water projects, electrification and irrigation development for Jajarkot district were not sufficient and that attention was not given to the extension of electricity services and river control measures.
Krishna Prasad Dahal of the same party said a policy should be formulated for development of rope way, cable car transport and electric railway system in the country. He demanded restructuring the Makwanpur water supply project for better services, providing consumer education to the public and river control measures in the district.
He also called for running train services between Nepal and India, construction of the Hetauda-Kathmandu Tunnel Highway and integrated development of roadways.
Parsuram Meghi Gurung, also a CPN-UML member, called for the immediate implementation of the Arun-III Project, extension of rural electrification services in Dhankuta, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha, construction of a road to the district headquarters of Sankhuwasabha, and extension of water supply to all parts of the district.
Similarly, he stressed transparency and effectiveness in the works of the Ministry of Water Resources, Physical Planning and Public Works.