We're not against Melamchi, Prachanda reiterates

Maoist chairman Prachanda has reiterated that his party is not against Melamchi Water Supply Project.

Addressing a national meet of Nepal National Industry Entrepreneur's Organisation –said to be close to Maoists - in the capital on Thursday, Prachanda said that his party has taken the stand in order to smash the tradition of abiding by all conditions posed by donors. He said his party, in fact, wants to cooperate with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Prachanda said that although his party wanted to lay foundation for new economy to uplift Nepal, status-quoists were conspiring against Maoists.

Likewise, senior Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has said that conspirators were trying to close in on the Maoists in the pretext of Melamchi.

The decision by Maoist leader and Minister for Works and Physical Planning Hisila Yami to review the agreement to award management contract of valley's water distribution system to Severn Trent claiming that the latter has bad track record elsewhere has compelled the ADB to warn that it would pull out of the multi-million dollar project.

Maoist leaders including Prachanda had met with ADB country director Paul Heytens on Wednesday to request the latter to reconsider its decision to pull out of the project. nepalnews.com sd May 24 07

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