KATHMANDU: The UML-led coalition is hopeful that main opposition Unified CPN-Maoist will let the budget pass in parliament soon. Though the budget was presented 112 days ago, it could not be passed till date, thanks to the Maoists persistent obstruction of the House over the contentious issue of restoration of ‘civilian supremacy’. The Cabinet, which held a meeting today, held out a ray of hope for the beleaguered nation, which is bracing for a major crisis in basic sectors like health and food due to the inordinate delay in passing the budget. Shankar Pokharel, Minister for Information and Communications and government spokesperson, briefed the media about the outcome of the Cabinet meeting. “The Prime Minister apprised his Cabinet colleagues about last evening’s political development. He held informal talks with the Maoist and Nepali Congress leaders at UML leader KP Sharma Oli’s residence at Balkot in Bhaktapur. The Maoists seem to be open to passing the budget. All outstanding issues will be resolved through dialogue and politics of consensus,” he said. The Cabinet decided to liquidate the Hetauda cloth industry, which has been defunct for long. A three-member judicial commission, headed by former justice Krishna Prasad Basyal, will be set up to probe into the alleged incident of rape in Achham. A group of police personnel has been accused of raping their colleague in the remote Far-Western district. The Cabinet gave its assent to directives, prepared by the Ministry of General Administration, for authorisation of educational certificates for civil servants. The Council of Ministers also decided to resolve the ongoing row over the closure of hotels and resorts inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP). Incidentally, two separate House committees — the State Affairs Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources — have come up with contradictory views on the fate of the hotels and resorts within the confines of the CNP.