Kathmandu, December 10

The government today formed a high-level panel led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bijay Gachhadar to monitor infrastructure projects.

According to Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai, who is also the spokesperson for the government, the high-level committee led by DPM Gachhadar includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and Minister Rai as members.

The committee also includes finance secretary, a member nominated by the Cabinet and Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission as members. The secretariat of the High-Level Committee would be set up in the finance ministry.

Considering Nepal’s immediate, mid-term and long-term needs, the panel has been mandated to identify and recommend infrastructure development projects to the government and also arrange financial resources for new and ongoing projects.

Today’s meeting of the Cabinet also endorsed a two-year immediate reform programme for economic development, prosperity and good governance in the country as per the new constitution.

According to Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi the work-plan includes administrative reforms, effective service delivery, development management, transition management and reconstruction, among others. Subedi said the work-plan was developed after consulting ministries.

He said the work-plan was a common and comprehensive document that deals with immediate plans and programmes that could be implemented right away.

The work-plan, which was distributed to the ministers last week, was endorsed today by the Cabinet and would be made public through a press conference soon, said Subedi.

The government also decided to accept grant assistance of around Rs 3.448 billion provided by Japan for the post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation. It also decided to accept grant assistance worth Rs 14.94 billion offered by China for expansion of the Araniko Highway.