Policy decision sought to ensure progress of development projects

KATHMANDU, MAY 13 -

Problems in acquiring land, obtaining explosives and cutting down trees in the project sites have been major hurdles to making measurable progress in development projects , officials of ministries related to development have said.

These problems resulted in slow progress of development projects , they said at a meeting of National Development Action Committee headed by Cabinet Chairman Khil Raj Regmi here on Sunday.

Kathmandu-Tarai Fast-Track road, Mid-Hills Highway, railway project and North-South Corridor road projects all have faced land acquisition hurdles.

Secretaries of different ministries urged the chairman of the cabinet to take solid policy decision to ease above problems, according to a participant of the meeting.

The secretaries of the development-oriented ministries told Regmi that locals demand 10-times the market price of land to be acquired under the patronage of local political leaders. “A separate Act is necessary for land acquisition and resettlement,” they said.

A participant said meeting directed the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management to draft the Act for land acquisition and resettlement. They also raised the issue of delay in obtaining explosives as it takes long time for purchasing them and the transportation process is also lengthy.

Some officials had suggested giving the rights of purchasing, transporting and providing security to explosives necessary for development projects to the Nepal Army.

During the meeting, Defense Secretary Tilak Ram Sharma was directed to make necessary arrangements for obtaining explosives for development projects in coordination with the Army.

Regmi promised solving problems facing development projects . He also expressed concern over slow progress of national pride projects.

Source: The Kathmandu Post