Kathmandu, February 2:

Engineers can play the most important role in building a new Nepal, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Gopal Man Shrestha said at an interaction organised here today to mark the seventh anniversary of the Nepal Engineering Council.

He urged the engineers to help build a new Nepal. According to experts, 9,124 engineers are registered with the Nepal Engineering Council. Various colleges are churning out over 2,500 engineers every year.

Shrestha stressed the need of harmony between the government and civic society to resolve the Terai crisis. “Development process cannot gain pace unless there is political stability.”

Engineer and political analyst CK Lal accused engineers of forgetting their social responsibilities. “Nepal has not been able to make economic progress due to lack of proper vision and issue identification,” he said.

“Our priority projects should be based on our social setting,” he said, stressing the need to opt for small-scale projects in the country for building a new Nepal.