Parliamentary committee interrogates CoAS Katawal

September 18, 2006
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Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rukmangad Katawal

Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rukmangad Katawal (File Photo)
The parliamentary Development committee interrogated newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Rukmangad Katawal about the construction of Karnali Highway, Monday.

Answering the queries of lawmakers, Katawal informed that the army had only accorded top priority for the construction of Karnali highway among the 13 highways to be constructed by the army.

Stating that all the activities of the army are transparent except security related issues, CoAS Katawal said that solution of the political problem is a must for construction of roads.

In the past, the army could not carry various construction works due to security related issues.

Lawmakers raised their concerns in the issues of not giving appropriate compensation to people for using their land while constructing road and failure to provide compensation to 12 workers killed while constricting roads.

The construction of the Karnali Highway, that was started in 1992 have not been completed yet. The government however said that the construction of the highway would be completed by mid-January.

Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Gopal Man Shrestha defied summon of the committee in this regard.

Katawal received oath of the office and secrecy from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, on Monday itself.