National Assembly Calls for Separate Legislation to Expedite National Pride Projects

Members of the National Assembly (NA) have urged the government to introduce dedicated legislations for national pride projects to ensure their timely implementation. During a meeting of the Federalism Enablement and National Concerns Committee held today, parliamentarians highlighted the need for a legislative framework to address the challenges faced by these crucial development initiatives.

The discussion centered around ongoing national pride projects such as the Mahakali Irrigation, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation, Bheri Babai Diversion, and Sikta Irrigation projects.

Committee member Krishna Bahadur Rokaya emphasized the frequent stalling of these projects due to insufficient financial resources, despite their repeated announcements by the government. Rokaya called for specific legislation to address budgetary constraints and facilitate smooth project execution.

Other members, including Indira Joshi Gautam, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, and Gopal Bahadur Sarki Achhami, expressed concerns about the escalating costs of these projects, largely attributed to delays and lack of timely implementation. They stressed the need for streamlined processes to prevent cost overruns.

Sarita Dawadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, shared an update on the Sikta Irrigation Project, which has achieved 41.58% physical progress and 40.62% financial progress. She pointed out that inadequate budget allocations and the frequent transfer of project staff have hindered progress across many of these national pride initiatives.