He stressed the need of completing these two projects in the stipulated time citing the country's prestige itself was undermined after various problems cropped at the country's only international airport - the Tribhuvan International Airport – recently.Speaking in the meeting of the Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament today, the Prime Minister directed the ministries concerned to complete the development construction works at the earliest by adopting the development and expansion seen in the science and technology sectors.
He urged the bodies concerned to determine the model on which the airport and the fast track projects could be carried out.
"I urge the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to first fix the model in which these projects are to be developed – the public-private partnership (PPP) or the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model," he added.
Blaming the lack of institutionalized system and effectiveness in works for the slow pace of development even after a long time of the restoration of democracy in the country, Premier Koirala said now the development works should not be hindered under any pretext.
He mentioned that development works could not move forward until there is lasting peace and political stability in the country, and urged the political parties to create an environment conducive to that end.
While recalling that development and economic prosperity could not be achieved because of the lack of investment-friendly environment in the past, PM Koirala also pointed out to the need of the effective mobilization of the government mechanisms to best utilise the available resources.
He observed that the exodus of youths to overseas was harmful to the country's economic prosperity, calling on the political parties to make constructive contribution to issuing a consensus-based constitution.
Informing the committee meeting that efforts were on for forging consensus with the opposition parties including the UCPN (Maoist), the Prime Minister warned that the country could not bear yet another conflict and confrontation.
He said that the parties were agreed on many contentious issues of the constitution writing and also expressed the belief that the remaining differences regarding the issue of state restructuring would be resolved through dialogue.
"The constitution would be formulated on the basis of consensus alone and consensus is reached when parties sit at the negotiating table. The management of Maoist combatants and arms was achieved through consensus in the past and the Maoist cantonments were vacated accordingly. The current differences would also be resolved," PM Koirala said.
Stating all the parties were univocal regarding formulating a democratic constitution, he said nobody could remain aloof from topics as federalism and inclusiveness.
The Prime Minister shared that problems were faced in the acquisition of land and the compensation for the land acquired for the construction of the development projects, stressing the need of cooperation from all sides for removing such obstacles. He added that the government was preparing to resolving these problems.
Recalling that development has become possible in this world through cooperation and collaboration, PM Koirala suggested moving ahead by synchronizing principles and practicality when it came to development works. He further said that hollow slogans are useless and there should be national consensus on development and construction works.
Objecting to the demolition of roads which have been widened recently for lack of coordination among the government bodies, PM Koirala cautioned against doing so in the coming days.
He drew the attention of the departments concerned to stop the tendency of concluding development and construction of projects in Asar (mid-June to mid-July) and to make arrangements so that the domestic construction companies get priority in these projects, stressing on the need of doing away with the problem of calling for tenders at low rate. RSS
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