सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Nepali construction entrepreneurs are currently facing problems. The construction industry has not been able to get going due to the problems faced by construction entrepreneurs. Even after 6 months of the current fiscal year, the construction sector has not been able to gain momentum.
Construction entrepreneurs have been complaining that they have not even received payment for the projects completed in the last fiscal year. Construction entrepreneurs have been saying that the government has left about 45 billion rupees outstanding. However, the government has made public the data that last year’s payment was about 24 billion rupees through the current fiscal year’s budget.
The Finance Minister has also claimed that the payments due to construction entrepreneurs and the state have been completed, holding a press conference at the ministry. However, construction entrepreneurs have also announced a protest from the coming 18th of Magh, saying that the state has not been able to pay for the projects it has worked on. Brief conversation with Ravi Singh, President of the Federation of Nepal Construction Entrepreneurs on the movement and demands of construction entrepreneurs:
In the conversation, President Singh accused the government of ignoring the demands of the entrepreneurs despite repeatedly making various demands to the government. He said that in order to put pressure on the government, the entrepreneurs have given an ultimatum to address the demands of the construction entrepreneurs by Magh 15. He informed that we will demonstrate at Maitighar Mandala on the 18th, in front of the Prime Minister’s residence on the 20th, and if the demands are ignored, the East-West border will be closed from Magh 21st.
The state does not have the resources for projects worth 6.5 trillion
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## The payment due to construction entrepreneurs is complicated and confusing. This issue needs to be resolved. The state formulated a plan. The state has not been able to manage the resources of the 6.5 trillion rupee projects that have been contracted with construction entrepreneurs. The state cannot do it either. The construction sector is currently considered a national crisis. All parties are involved and responsible in this. They have gone to the government.
They have allocated a low budget in the name of multi-year projects and have put projects in place. Because of the inability to pay for those projects, the entrepreneurs have been demanding payment for the past two years. Until the government provides a solution, the entrepreneurs will continue to say the same. The solution to payment is to reclassify the 6.5 trillion rupee projects and prioritize which plan to prioritize, and projects worth more than 1 trillion rupees should not be prioritized.
If we move forward to implement the prioritized plans, there will be no problem with payment. Businessmen are not sure how this year’s work will proceed after paying last year’s payment of 22 billion rupees by mid-December. The supply cycle is also not sure. The government has not been able to show any resources. Construction businessmen are convinced that the government does not have resources.
It is necessary to find a solution to the construction crisis together
The government is obliged. It is necessary for all political parties to find a solution to the current construction crisis due to their inaction. All political parties should stand together on the construction crisis. The problem of construction businessmen is not just a party or a party, but a national issue. MPs from all political parties have taken constituency-focused plans. They have allocated 15 million rupees for a plan worth 125 million rupees.
A budget of 3 million has been allocated for a plan worth 460 million. The government’s failure to manage resources in an uncontrolled manner while taking up projects in the name of multi-year projects is a weakness of the state. All political parties are responsible for this. Permanent government employees are also responsible. Government employees would not have allowed such a problem to arise. Projects cannot be implemented after taking up projects without resources. When the country’s budget has not been able to provide a solution to multi-year projects, they are still in favor of allocating a low budget to bring additional programs in the name of multi-year projects. Some programs have been missed.
The government has irresponsibly issued contracts and entered into agreements with construction entrepreneurs. The government should rectify this. Businessmen are now warning the government because it has acted irresponsibly. We have given an ultimatum to address the demands of construction entrepreneurs by Magh 15. We will demonstrate at Maitighar Mandala on the 18th. We will demonstrate in front of the Prime Minister’s residence on the 20th. If our demands are ignored even then, we will have to close the East-West border from Magh 21st. If the crisis of construction entrepreneurs is not resolved, the country’s crisis will not be resolved.
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## ##The state ignored the problems of construction entrepreneurs##
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## Construction entrepreneurs should accept that the government will solve the problem when they make an agreement. But the state party cannot be irresponsible without implementing the agreement as per the agreement. In the past, when we protested, we reached an agreement with the state party twice. Once, a four-point agreement was reached and the other time, a nine-point agreement was reached. But most of the points of the agreement have not been implemented even now. The state should have amended the law and addressed many things.
Even though the law has been passed in the parliament, it has not been addressed. The government has completely ignored the construction sector while amending some Nepal Acts. The construction sector has also been affected by that. While warning that construction entrepreneurs are in trouble, the government has ignored the problems of construction entrepreneurs. That is also why the entrepreneurs have become more angry. If the problem is not solved, the country’s economy will not be dynamic.
Development and construction work is not possible in Nepal. We have played the role of a supporter to the state in finding solutions to the problems of construction entrepreneurs. We are giving the government a chance to correct its shortcomings. Currently, the price of cement and the production reduction by construction entrepreneurs are also black marketing.
It is necessary to form a high-level commission to solve the construction crisis
If a high-level commission is formed and implemented to solve the crisis in the construction industry, the development of the country is not possible. Why are construction companies that have succeeded in the world failing in Nepal? This is something the state should worry about. Nepali construction companies are successful in doing work in Nepal. But foreign construction companies have failed in doing work in Nepal.
They do not know the laws and working procedures of Nepal. They fail. The Nepali Army, which is currently under the Nepalese government, cannot even complete the work undertaken on time. The laws in Nepal are such that one creates obstacles for the other to do development and construction work. The laws and regulations are such that they hinder the work.
The commission needs to study the laws and regulations and correct them. The stakeholders related to construction should also be represented. The commission is necessary to make development, construction, and the economy dynamic.
News Agency Nepal
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