Bhairahawa, December 11:

Minister for Finance, Dr Baburam Bhattarai declared that Nepal would be a country free of power cuts within this fiscal year. He said this while inaugurating the third Lumbini tourism festival and national industrial trade fair organised by the Siddharthanagar chamber of commerce and industries in Siddhartha stadium today. Stating that the power problem was a huge hindrance for all industries and businesses, he claimed the government was working on plans to stamp out the problem completely.

He made this towering promise to the industrialists, entrepreneurs and businessmen addressing the inaugural ceremony of the festival. “The government will arrange power supplies round the clock within this fiscal year,” he said, however failing to mention how this enormous task would be achieved just within a year. Stating that the Bhairahawa based Gautam Buddha Airport would be upgraded to an international airport after a few months, he said that negotiations with donor countries were going on.

He said that voluntary tax payment was implemented for the interests of the industrialists and businessmen urging them not to take it in a negative sense.

He also claimed that the government would take stern measures against criminals and corrupt elements after six months. “If they refused to come to the process of peace and development within the next six months, the state mechanisms would be applied”,

he said.

He said the Maoists were in the government for good, claiming that they would not step down from the government in any circumstances. Urging the industrialist and businessmen to be optimistic, he said the country was sure to see few cases of disturbances till the new constitution was drafted. “It takes time to clear the debris of thousands of years”, Finance Minister Bhattarai said, adding, “We are sure that we will make a new and prosperous Nepal.”

Meanwhile, President of the federation of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kush Kumar Joshi has appealed the finance minister to issue the white paper for the implementation of the budget.

The festival having 270 stalls will go on till December 21.