Kathmandu, September 15: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Ishwar Pokharel has said an agreement would be reached in connection with the construction of Kerung-Kathmandu tunnel way for operating rail service, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal.
Laying the foundation stone for the construction of a children’s park at Jhor of Tokha municipality-1 yesterday, he said as the tunnel of the railway would be constructed from Jhor area, the development of this area will leapfrog after the construction of the railway project. Referring to the general trend of delay in completion of development projects in the country, he blamed it on the Public Procurement Act.
“The Act is to be amended. After its amendment, the development projects would be completed in time. Also the effective monitoring of development works is needed and the people’s representatives have a supreme role to materialize the development plans and projects,” he said. He added that the development projects would remain in a state of limbo if the local citizens did not feel their ownership over them.
So, the people’s representatives should carry out effective monitoring and supervision of these projects. DPM Pokharel also called for putting to an end the tradition of opposing the development works and projects. “Nobody should be displaced due to the development projects,” he said. Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)’s mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said the KMC was preparing a special plan for the integrated development of Kathmandu. Saying development was taking a pace in the metropolis, he claimed that the development would be visible some time from now as many development and infrastructure projects were under construction.
State 3 Assembly member Yogendra Sangraula stressed on coordination among the federal, state and local level governments while carrying out development works. Mayor of Tokha municipality Prakash Adhikari said the task of constructing the children’s park has been initiated from ward number 1 of the municipality as per the municipality’s Town Assembly decision of constructing such park in every ward.
He believed construction of such parks at various places will not only add to the beauty of the place but also help in preserving the public places. Municipality’s chief administrative officer Pradip Poudel, Ward No. 1 chair Krishna Adhikari and engineer Rudra Acharya also put their views on the occasion, highlighting the importance of such parks and public spaces. RSS
