Increasing Competitiveness Key To Growth: Finance Secretary
Finance Secretary Rameshwor Prasad Khanal has assured that the government would implement its free market and economic liberalization policy with the importance they deserve in the upcoming budget, adding the desired economic progress can be achieved through social mobilization, private sector initiative and coordination between various government agencies. Khanal, who was speaking at an interaction program in the capital Friday (Aug 29), said that the government however failed to realize the economic goals it had set because of its inability to effectively implement its programs and policies in the past. He further said that the government would make its program and policies public on September 10 and unveil the budget for the fiscal year 2065/66 a week after that. Saying that the government aims to make the private sector effective and help build an open and competitive environment to achieve the desired economic growth, Khanal said that to go about this the government has been checking inflation and doing all that is necessary to ensure easy availability of essential commodities. "The competitive environment is important to ensure high economic growth," he said. Speaking at the same program, President of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Kush Kumar Joshi said that the country's economy might collapse if the political parties continue to give importance to partisan interests than the real economic issues. He also expressed concern that many industries in Bara and Parsa district are closing down due to increased political activities and flayed the government in its inability to ban the syndicate system even though the Supreme Court has already given a verdict against it. Similarly, President of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Constituent Assembly member Binod Kumar Chaudhari said that the government, political parties including the civil society should have one sole aim and that it how to ensure a sound economic growth. Compiled from reports
Govt To Unveil Relief Package To Flood Victims
The Central Natural Disaster Rescue Committee headed by the Prime Minister, has directed the concerned authorities and the special committee formed to support the Koshi flood victims to prepare a relief package by Sunday. Committee's meeting held Thursday in Kathmandu also discussed the efforts being made for resumption of transportation along the east-west highway that has been blocked since the breakage of Koshi embankment. The government directed the local authorities in eastern districts to seek alternative routes for the transportation, which has been obstructed after the floods swept away some 10 km of east-west highway. Few passenger buses used Indian routes to reach western districts and Kathmandu. There were reports of the buses looted. Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai told reporters after the meeting that the high level special committee, which includes Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, has been directed to prepare a complete package of the government support to the flood victims. A cabinet meeting to be held on Monday is likely to endorse the package program as local authorities plan to resettle in new areas. According to ministers, the government will announce short, medium and long term assistance packages. Meanwhile, Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nemwang called a 25-party meeting, discussing possible support that CA can provide to the victims. Compiled from reports
WFP To Provide Support To Flood Victims For A Month
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it is mobilizing emergency food assistance for 50,000 people displaced by floods in the eastern Terai districts. "The emergency operation is in response to a Government of Nepal request after monsoon rains caused an embankment of the Saptakoshi River to collapse, flooding thousands of hectares of land and forcing an estimated 50,000 people to flee their homes," the WFP statement reads. "We were able to quickly get food moving to thousands of displaced families affected by these devastating floods," stated WFP Country Representative in Nepal, Richard Ragan. "However, we are concerned about the continuous rains which could increase the number of people in need of food." Initially, WFP will provide a 15-day food basket consisting of rice, pulses, salt and vegetable oil to 50,000 flood victims. "WFP is prepared to provide food for up to 30 days for families who cannot return to their homes because of high water levels," the statement reads. Water still completely covers two of the five VDCs flooded last week. WFP estimates that nearly 5,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed in the area. Humanitarian food assistance has begun to reach flood-affected areas and distributions to displaced families should begin this week. However, WFP said strikes in Nawalparasi along the East-West Highway are delaying trucks carrying WFP humanitarian food relief to flood victims. WFP has begun escorting trucks through this section of the highway. "I urge people not to block our food deliveries. Stopping much needed food to people who have lost everything is simply no way to deal with grievances," urged Ragan. Compiled from reports
5.25 B Cost Estimated For Reconstructing Koshi Embankment
Indian technical team on Thursday estimated around Rs 5.25 billion cost for reconstructing the embankment breached by the Saptakoshi River. A team including flood experts forwarded a letter with the estimation to the government of Indian state of Bihar after an inspection and study in the affected areas and the embankment. Earlier, the government of Bihar had provided only Rs 80 million for reconstruction. Meanwhile, a joint technical team of the Ministry for Water Resources from Nepal and India continued working on the reconstruction. Sunsari Chief District Officer Durga Bhandari said the Indian team reached here on Tuesday after the Nepali side assured to arrange security for them. The technicians are learnt to be experts on the Koshi and its erosion. The team repaired spurs number 11 and 12 on Wednesday, which, as it claimed, would now protect spur-15 from getting eroded as the river waters would change its course. Compiled from reports END
PM Dahal Says His First 'Formal Visit' Will Be To India
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who returned to the capital completing a four-day trip to China Wednesday (Aug 27), has said his visit to the northern neighbor was "positive and fruitful". Speaking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport on his return this afternoon, PM Dahal said the visit was an important opportunity to share views on Nepal's peace process and development and economic issues with the Chinese leadership. Chinese leadership, according to him, expressed satisfaction over the recent political changes in Nepal. As it was an informal visit no agreements on development or economic matters were signed, he informed. The PM said the Chinese side showed interest in investing in various sectors in Nepal, but didn't mention in which areas China was interested to put investment. He also hinted that there would be follow-up visits over the matters discussed during the visit. Asked about the reports of India's displeasure over his visit to the China, Dahal said the visit should not be viewed in negative light as it was not a political one and that it was basically meant to represent the country in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. "My first political and formal visit will be to India," he clarified. The Prime Minister had gone to China on Aug 23, leading an 11-member delegation, which included his wife Sita, communication minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and foreign secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya. In Beijing, he met Chinese President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and other senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. During the tour, he also visited some landmarks in Beijing including chairman Mao's mausoleum. Compiled from reports
Kosi Repair Will Take A Long Time, Says Minister Gupta
A senior minister has revealed that the complete repair of damaged embankment of Kosi river will take a long time. "Despite the claims of repair works being carried out on war footing or whatever, there is no possibility of completing the task anytime soon," Jaya Prakash Gupta, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, told reporters, Wednesday (Aug 27). Minister Gupta who had recently returned from flood-ravaged regions said that it could take at least a year to rehabilitated those displaced by flood. According to officials, fifty to seventy thousand people have been displaced due to flood in Saptakosi river in eastern district of Sunsari. The Kosi water inundated villages in Sunsari after breaking embankments. Meanwhile, Indian technicians have started repair jobs in the embankments from Wednesday. Compiled from reports
Army Integration Within Six Months: Defense Minister
Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal,' has said that the process of integration of army will be completed between three to six months. Talking to reporters in Itahari, Tuesday – where he had gone to inspect flood affected regions – Minister Thapa said that a special committee will be formed to initiate the process. He also urged everyone not to doubt the process of integration at a time when the 'Nepalis people have voted Maoists to form the government and the Nepali Army has vowed to carry out the instructions of the government.' Meanwhile, reports say that the Defense Minister has said that Nepal will not continue to wait for India for renovation of Kosi embankments. "We waited for a few days. But now we will start mobilizing internal resources to repair the embankments in a permanent manner," he is quoted in newspaper reports as saying. A team of high level ministers and officials including Defense Minister, Physical Planning Minister Bijaya Gachhadar, Home Secretary, Defense Secretary, among others, have reached Itahari, Tuesday, to mobilize rescue and rehabilitation efforts from there. The team has been authorized to take decisions and carry out necessary expenditures from the place. Compiled from reports
