Dhankuta, May 30:

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat today said that the “nation will face a grave loss if the ADB withdraws from the Melamchi project.”

He was speaking at a programme organised here by the Dhankuta chapter of the Nepali Congress.

“The Melamchi project is in trouble due to trivial matters,” he said, adding that the government was working to salvage it with political understanding. He said that donor countries were ready to invest in Arun III and Upper Karnali Hydel projects as well.

The ADB had warned earlier that it would not be possible to carry on with the Melamchi

project activities if the government failed to authorise the signing of the duly negotiated management contract of the project, due to close on June 30.

“It is important to bring all the marginalised sectors and classes into the mainstream,” he said, calling on everyone to work for an inclusive democracy.

Stating that road access to all district headquarters is important for development, Dr Mahat said the previous budget introduced the idea of a highway to link Chyangthapu in the east to Jhulaghat in the west. He urged people to refrain from calling bandhs so as to speed up development.

The Nepali Congress opposes despotic rule, Dr Mahat, also a central member of the Nepali Congress, said, adding: “More and more Congress cadres are demanding a republic of late.”

Nepali Congress district chairman Hari Adhikari chaired the programme.