Statute will put pvt sector in driving seat: Choudhary

KATHMANDU, Nov 30: A leading industrialist and Constituent Assembly (CA) member has hailed the draft concept prepared by the CA Committee on Natural Resources, Economics Rights and Distribution of Revenue as a step forward in reemphasizing lead role that the private sector has been playing in national economic activities.[break]



However, the private sector representative also underlined some inconsistencies and anomalies seen in the draft and warned that they could jeopardize the fundamental concept of liberal economic policy that the new constitution is adopting if they are not properly dealt with.



Talking to pressmen, noted industrialist Binod Kumar Choudhary said the arrangement to adopt public sector´s activities in the areas where private sectors fail to make their presence felt as one of the principles of the state is a major achievement. "If passed by the CA, which is very much likely, country´s constitution will for the first time recognize the leading role of private sector," he told a group of journalists Tuesday.



Similarly, the draft has also honored the entrepreneurs´ rights to exist in adverse condition and has decided to adopt a policy of attracting foreign capital as well as technologies. These are some of the constitutional-guaranteed policies that help to create business friendly environment and attract foreign investments, Choudhary said.



However, he also underscored a list of 12-point disagreement of the private sector on the provisions made in the draft and expressed confidence that all private sector representatives share similar view.



"We have lodged our dissent on the statement that indigenous nationalities along with local people will have the first right to utilize national resources," he said and added that such arrangement will not only raise the confusion over the use of national resources but will also discourage much-needed investment in utilizing resources.



He also a unfolded a list of disagreements and added that that the statements of ensuring rights of farmers and national producers without clearly defining national producers can bring controversies in future. "Similarly, there is a need to clearly define the proposed citizens´ right against hunger and right to housing and employment to avoid constitutional complications," he said.



Choudhary said the private sector also had objection over a provision in the drafts that allows the state to confiscate land owned by individuals or institutions beyond the limits set by the law without paying compensation and stressed that such provision, if adopted in the constitution, will violate fundamental rights of citizens to own and use property.

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