Coordinate to boost capital spending, PM tells ministers

Kathmandu, November 21

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today directed ministers, including the newly-appointed ones, and secretaries to work in coordination to boost capital expenditure.

According to newly-appointed Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Ghanashyam Bhusal, Oli said capital expenditure had declined in the first trimester of this fiscal compared to the same period last year. “He urged all the ministers and secretaries to work to boost capital expenditure,” Bhusal told THT.

A source at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers said Oli also directed the ministers and secretaries to be proactive, stating that only the PM’s initiatives would not yield positive results.

Referring to the clean-up drive of the city’s streets during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit last month, Oli said it proved things could change in a short time. He directed the concerned ministers to repair potholes in the streets within the next four months.

Oli also urged all the ministers to be transparent, warning of action if they failed to maintain transparency.

Oli issued the directive just after the first Cabinet meeting including the new ministers at OPMCM. Earlier in the day, nine newly appointed ministers took oath of office and secrecy administered by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas.

The new ministers include Hridayesh Tripathi, minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration; Ghanashyam Bhusal, minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development; Lekhraj Bhatta, minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Rameshwor Ray Yadav, minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security; and Basanta K Nembang, minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Other new appointees are Parbat Gurung, minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens; Moti Lal Dugad, minister of State for Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Nava Raj Rawat, minister of State for Health and Population; and Ram Bir Manandhar, minister of State for Urban Development.

Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chairperson of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad,  Timilsena, among others, were present at the swearing-in.