Govt told to address problems faced by construction entrepreneurs

KATHMANDU: The Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives has directed the government to address the problems faced by construction entrpreneurs.

At a meeting held on Friday, Committee Chairperson Ashish Gajurel urged the government to ensure timely payments to contractors. “Delays in construction work will affect the country’s development process. We should work together to resolve existing issues and contribute to nation-building,” he said in the meeting.

During the meeting, lawmaker Dr Mohammad Firdosh Alam stressed the need to make timely payments to construction contractors. Another Lawmaker, Bed Narayan Shrestha, said the government should increase investment to produce raw materials locally and complete contracts on schedule.

Likewise, lawmaker Jayapati Rokaya said the government must be serious about creating an enabling environment for contractors to work. He complained that although the Chinese government has already completed the construction of a bridge connecting the border at Hilsa, the Nepali government has yet to move forward with the handover process.

Stating that the Chinese government has shown interest in the construction of the Hilsa–Simkot road, Rokaya said the government to carry out necessary coordination with the Chinese authorities.

Lawmaker Sunil KC said road construction delays have contributed to a rise in accidents. “Contractors must work responsibly,” he said, calling on the government to make its monitoring effective and to ensure proper utilization of available resources.

Speaking at the meeting, Gopal Sigdel, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development, said construction materials have become more expensive due to rising diesel prices. He added that the ministry was ready to take measures to ease the current difficulties faced by the sector.

At the meeting, Nicholash Pandey, president of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, said the construction sector is facing a crisis due to excessive and unexpected price increases. He urged the government to implement the price-adjustment provisions stipulated in the Public Procurement Act and Regulations.