Kathmandu, April 12

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today called on agitating Madhes-based parties to join the High-Level Political Committee formed by the government under the leadership of deputy prime minister and participate in meaningful dialogue to resolve the unsettled issues of new constitution.

In a televised address to the nation from his office in Singha Durbar, PM Oli said broader political consensus was necessary to implement the new constitution and called all parties to contribute towards that.

Oli said the government would focus on multiple utility of energy and water resources to end the power shortage within one year and create a situation of utilising electricity as per the country’s need within two years.

Completing hydel projects, including Upper Tamakoshi, at the fastest possible speed, moving ahead other proposed projects and launching an attractive hydel project by utilising the remittance are the government’s priorities, he said.

“We are in a position to generate additional 600 megawatt electricity within one year. The power cuts will end within one year,” Oli claimed.

He claimed that the supply of cooking gas would ease soon and the government would act against those indulging in black marketing and corruption and causing artificial scarcity.

He also claimed that there was no satisfying reason for Tarai unrest that caused a loss of billions of rupees and left many dead.

The PM reiterated that the government would replace all the wire bridges with suspension bridges within two years.

He said the government would soon begin reconstruction of private houses damaged during last year’s devastating quakes and the reconstruction would be completed by May-June, 2017, he said. He, however, accepted that the reconstruction works were delayed due to various reasons.

He urged all not to question the country’s commitment to human rights.

The budget to be presented in the Legislature Parliament within a month would help the government realise its dream, he said, adding, “Stopping to dream will not give progress”.

He said he would like to inspire all the Nepalis to dream of travelling in a modern rail in their life time, as the government was working on Kerung-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini rail line.