Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali Resolution: Dozen New Programmes

Kathmandu, May 21 – The government has incorporated over a dozen new policies and programmes in its annual document towards realizing the resolution of ‘prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali’.
The annual policy and programme has laid emphasis on progressive and innovative programmes.
In the government policy and programme for coming fiscal year 2075-76 BS presented by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at federal parliament today, a strategy has been mooted to develop sugar mill and cement factory as export-oriented industry.
Among several initiatives incorporated in the policy and programme are inclusion and incentive to private sector as an important pillar of national economy, delivery of services to investors from one stop site, initiating legal, institutional and procedural reforms and reducing costs to enable investment friendly environment.
The document has also emphasized on executing the programme such as promotion of public private partnership in infrastructure development and arrangement of digital public service to citizens.

Likewise, ‘citizen right’ mobile apps would be brought into use, a set standard to ensure Nepal Standards in all sorts of services would be prepared and opportunity to a major portion of population engaged in agriculture sector would be provided in the non-agriculture within five years.
As per the government policy and programme, 1200 kms long Madan Bhandari Highway would be constructed with due priority linking inner Madhesh and Tarai from east to the far-west.
The school dropouts would be rejoined in the class and the initial prices of paddy, wheat and sugarcane would be fixed prior to crop plantation.

Furthermore, system would be developed to open bank account to every Nepali citizen.

‘Per capita income to double in five years’

The government has set a target of graduating the country to the status of middle income within coming 10 years.

Presenting the government’s annual polcies and programmes for the fiscal year 2075-76 BS at a joint meeting of the parliament today, President Bidya Devi Bhandari said the country would emphatically execute policies an programmes in a way to achieve the target of enhancing two-digit economic growth.

Noting that the per capital income of the people would be made double within five years and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be attained, President Bhandari said the agriculture, energy, industry and tourism would be advanced to catalyze economic development.

The government’s policy and programme has emphasized on advancing collaboration among the government, private sector and cooperative as a major foundation of development, developing main cities as green cities, preserving bio-diversity and river banks, making President Chure Conservation Programme effective and providing pure drinking water.

Among other priorities reflected in the policy and programme include providing 24-hour electricity services for industrial and house use purpose, expansion of transmission line, construction of Mid-Hill Highway, Terai-Kathmandu fast-track and Madfan Bhandari Highway within five years.

The government also has put in priority the construction of Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini train route.

Expansion and development of information highway to all local levels and distribution of national ID to all citizens have been featured as important programme for next fiscal year.

Govt focuses on infrastructure development

The government has planned to develop the national highways as fast tracks. While presenting the policy and programme of the government for fiscal year 2075/76 BS in a joint session of the federal parliament today, President Bidya Devi Bhandari mentioned that the policy and programmes have prioritized to upgrade the highways into fast tracks with clear road maps to this effect.

It is sated that the construction of Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast track, Madya Pahadi (Pushpa Lal) highway and postal highways will be completed in five years.

Similarly, the construction works of Madan Bhandari highway from Shantinagar (Jhapa) to Rupal (Dadeldhura) would be expedited.

Service centres of each local level would be blacktopped and connected with others.

Likewise, Mechi-Mahakali, Kathmandu-Birgunj, Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway would be forwarded soon. Legal and other procedures would be forwarded to begin water way transport in the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali rivers.

The government has stated to adopt the partnership programmes to develop the infrastructures in the country.

‘5,000 MW electricity in five years’

The government has prioritized the target of generating 5000 megawatt of electricity in coming five years.

In the government policy and programmes of 2075/076 BS unveiled by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday, the government has kept energy sector as the major base of economic prosperity and has kept electricity generation and transmission line in its major priority.

Likewise, 15,000 MW of energy would be generated in coming 10 years from the government and private sectors. Alternative energy is also prioritized.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), power procurement agreement (PPA) has been signed so far for 3,500 MW projects and preparations are ongoing for the PPA for 5,000 MW more in the near future.

Similarly, the government has promised to provide all necessary means and resources for the construction of transmission line. Currently, a total of 45 transmission lines of strategic importance projects are being developed.

Some days ago, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation had announced to embrace stern policy to resolve the problems appeared in the transmission line construction by issuing the whitepaper.

Likewise, the government has kept the construction of mega transmission line in the special priority list. So far, the transmission lines of only 400 KV are being constructed and the capacity of the transmission line would be upgraded to 765 KV.