Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that his aim is to complete the projects that have been sick for many years first rather than initiating new projects that will put additional financial burden on the country. He said this during a meeting with officials of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation on Friday.
Stating that a solution would be sought by classifying the problems, Minister Shrestha directed the subordinate officers to carry out the works that should be done at the ministerial level while the work to be done at other levels would show results as per their responsibility. “It’s not important who sits in the chair. What is the responsibility of the person sitting in the chair? And how much of his responsibility is important is important. Minister Shrestha said, “Let’s all work together so that the people feel the improvement in the remaining three months of the current fiscal year.” “Let us think together about what could be improved in the financial, governance and structural-level and we should work to achieve the target by utilizing our capacity, skills and budget to the maximum,” he said.
Stating that the impact of foreign currency appreciation on development projects is yet to be seen, he stressed the need for all to pay attention to complete the projects on time. Who will utilize the development when big projects have not been completed for years? “It is a matter of concern that irrigation projects have not been completed for three decades,” he said. Budget is the main problem in development projects. Is the budget the only problem? Minister Shrestha asked.
On the occasion, Water Resources Secretary Sarita Dawadi said that questions have been raised everywhere as to why the irrigation projects are not completed on time. He stressed the need to give special priority to the projects of national pride as problems like land acquisition and tree felling were common problems of development projects.
There are 6 national pride projects under the Department including Babai Irrigation Project, Sikta Irrigation, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project, Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project. Currently, the Department is constructing various projects through 215 contracts. Director General of the Department, Mitra Baral, said that out of 33 problematic contracts, 22 contracts have been terminated. In the current fiscal year, the department’s financial progress has been around 29 percent.
