Kathmandu, June 5

The Ministry of Home Affairs has started acquiring details from other ministries of delayed projects so as to investigate irregularities and take action against those involved.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Protection, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Land management and Cooperatives, Ministry of Health and Population and Ministry of Finance have to submit such information to the MoHA.

“The home ministry will take action as per the recommendation of ministries concerned. We are coordinating and cooperating with other ministries,” Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa said today.

“We have sought information from districts too. We are yet to begin action against those involved in illicit activities and will do so only after acquiring all the information. Contractors not completing projects on time should be punished as per the government’s policy.”

The home ministry has already received details of more than 300 contractors from other ministries and chief district offices. The ministry has been collecting details of projects, contractors, completion deadline, work progress and the possibility of projects meeting completion deadline.

On the opposition’s claim that the home ministry is under political pressure to go slow on the investigation into gold smuggling, Thapa said, “There’s no such pressure.” He added that not just the home ministry, but the Cabinet had decided to crack down on gold smuggling. “The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards such activities,” he said.

Thapa added that top political leaders had agreed that corruption was a major obstacle to development. “Without controlling corruption, there’s no possibility of development and prosperity,” he said.