Kathmandu, January 2:

The Federation of Nepalese Contractors’ Association of Nepal (FCAN) and Nepal Engineering Association (NEA), today held a meeting and urged the government to withdraw its decision regarding development and construction work of Rs 60 lakh by the work consumer committees (WCCs). According to FCAN, the decision would result in decline of small contractors’ business if work is allowed to be completed by such committees.

“Contractors and the people in the engineering business are working solely for successful work implementation, but this unfair competition and activities of different groups will pose hurdles in the quality of work,” said NEA president Kishor Thapa.

FCAN president Yakchya Dhoj Karki said that after the agriculture sector, the construction sector while helping in the development of the country’s infrastructure also gives employment opportunities to a huge number of people but the government is apathetic towards it. He added, “If the government does not withdraw its decision, FCAN and NEA will stage protest programme to guarantee security for small contractors.”

There is the facility of providing Rs 35 lakh for construction work by consumer committees but currently these committees are not following regulations, alleged FCAN. According to Karki, the national fund is being misused and the new decision may result in the complete collapse of the small contractors.

During the meeting, NEA and FCAN members held discussions over the problems plaguing them and decided to forward their suggestions to the government in regard to the decision over the cash limit for the consumer committees.