KATHMANDU, APRIL 11
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nembang has said the government is committed to make construction sector prosperous by amending laws if necessary.
Addressing the 22nd general assembly of the Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN) today, Minister Nembang said that the government is ready to address the demands of the entrepreneurs through dialogue.
Explaining that the government does not own any construction company, Minister Nembang further said that all the construction entrepreneurs across the country are the development partners of the government.
Minister Nembang also claimed that impressive progress has been witnessed in the infrastructure sector in the recent years as the country has given high priority to the infrastructure sector.
"For prosperity of the construction sector, businessmen should also move forward with a positive mindset and a sense of responsibility towards the nation," said Minister Nembang.
Similarly, Minister of State at the Ministry of Urban Development Ram Bir Manandhar said the construction sector cannot flourish without political stability. He said the practice of simply forwarding complaints would not benefit anyone and all the stakeholders should fulfil their responsibilities properly.
Meanwhile, the FCAN President Rabi Singh said that the government itself didn't implement the policies enforced for revival of the industry during the pandemic.
According to Singh, the government is still to clear payments worth Rs 100 billion of under-construction projects.
Along with this, the FCAN also put forth several other demands to the ministry today.
The FCAN has demanded the government to increase one-year deadline for the under-construction projects that were halted in lack of payment, facing construction delays due to lack of construction materials or lack of workers. Along with this, the FCAN has also demanded to create a secure environment for the construction sector, to amend existing laws and make it contemporary, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 12 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
