Lalitpur, December 4:

Even after 25 years of its establishment, the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has failed to meet its most important goal of developing science and technology.

Mahanta Thakur, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, speaking at a programme organised on the eve of NAST silver jubilee celebrations, said: “NAST failed to produce the desired outcome due to limitations in resources and expertise. There is a need for managing adequate resources for the development of science and technology and the country.” He also expressed commitment to provide financial assistance for its infrastructure development .

Dr Jagdish Chandra Pokharel, vice-chairman of National Planning Commission, said the new three- year interim plan aims at a modern and just Nepal and the scientific community and the NAST, as the apex body of science and technology, should move ahead without reservations to contribute most for the country’s development.

Records reveal that the NAST, in the last 25 years of its establishment, received f Rs 567 million, with an average of Rs 21 million per year.

Officials there said this amount was barely enough to meet the administrative costs.

Prof Dr Hom Nath Bhattarai said enough resources and proper policy are needed for

the NAST to serve its desired function.

The activities of the science and technology academy are limited to in-house researches, establishing small research units and providing grants for the researches, PhD and M Sc dissertations.

In the last 25 years, it provided research grant amounting to Rs 3.7 million to 74 scientists and funded researches by 34 PhD students and 368 M Sc students.

Prof Dr Bishal Nath Upreti, dean of the Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, said various limitations prevented NAST from making big achievements.

“Budgetary limitation is crucial. India’s financial assistance for a single research project is more than what NAST received from the government in the past 25 years,” he said.

He, however, commended the promotional activities, awards and publications of the NAST.

The NAST was established on December 6, 1982, for promoting science and technology, modernisation of the indigenous technology and facilitation of technology transfer.