KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the construction entrepreneurs to complete development and construction works within the stipulated time.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'unification announcement programme' organised by Nepal Contractors' Organisation in the capital on Saturday.

He said the tendency of dilly-dallying while carrying out works, leading to delay in their completion, would negatively impact the country, would obstruct the way for economic prosperity.

Prime Minister Oli stated that the government would give priority to contractors completing development projects in time while allocating contracts. Stating that the responsibility of making the country prosperous had come on the shoulders of construction entrepreneurs, he cautioned the builders and contractors to be committed towards fulfilling this responsibility.

He further said the government was committed to addressing problems of the construction entrepreneurs and that it would expend all its energy and resources to achieve economic prosperity in the country. He was also of the view that time had come for the development activities to take momentum.

Speaking at the same programme, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal urged doing away with the shortcomings in construction industry so as to create the atmosphere for carrying out works on timely manner. "The government will take positive initiative for resolving the problems that have arisen in the sector due to bureaucracy related weaknesses, and incompatible acts and laws," he said.

Co-Chair Dahal added that foreign investors and construction companies would not invest and come to work in Nepal until an environment conducive for this was created through self correction within the construction business.

"Monopoly of some big contractors would be broken and equal opportunity for work would be provided to all. Efforts would also be made towards providing special facilities to the contractors completing development and construction works in time," he said.

Dahal was also of the view that government would take appropriate decision to address the demands related to post-earthquake reconstruction and allied issues put forth by the contractors.

It was announced on the occasion that the Nepal Construction Industries Council close to the then CPN (UML) and the Nepal National Construction Entrepreneurs Federation close to the then CPN Maoist Centre have united to form the Organisation.