Surkhet. The Karnali Province government has assured resources on the basis of need for implementation in the current fiscal year.

In the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development has sent bills to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning to ensure the resources of 109 projects, but only 85 projects have received the budget so far.

The Ministry has been saying that the work has been delayed due to the problem of changing the secretary in the Ministry of Financial Affairs and Planning. This time, the source of the suspension bridge has been assured. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development is the Ministry with the highest budget in the province.

Most of the resources are guaranteed by this ministry. Spokesperson of the ministry, Engineer Prem Bahadur Oli, said that the work has been intensified with the preparation of tendering for the projects that have been secured by the budget from the district office. Most of the roads are erosion.

The physical construction work has already started after the tender of the projects sent in the current fiscal year has reached the final stage. Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development Sher Bahadur Budha said that discussions were underway to expedite the progress of old projects.

He said that the Ministry has already sent a letter to the District Office for the implementation of the projects that have been assured of resources so far. Letters have been sent to the district for the construction of 20 cemented bridges in 10 districts in view of the problems faced by the people of the country. Likewise, the District Office has been given authority to construct suspension bridges at 48 places, said Minister Budha. Authorities have been given authority to construct roads in 16 different places. Similarly, the ministry has also directed to open the tender for the construction of a bailey bridge by ensuring resources.

How many physical infrastructures are built in which district?

The Infrastructure Development Directorate has been given authority to construct four roads, seven concrete bridges and five suspension bridges in Surkhet. The Ministry has already sent directives for the construction of two roads, six cemented bridges, three suspension bridges and a bailey bridge in Jajarkot. One road, two motorable bridges and 10 suspension bridges will be constructed in Dailekh. Budget has been earmarked for the construction of one road, three cemented bridges and one suspension bridge in Rukum West. A road and nine suspension bridges are to be constructed in Mugu.

Similarly, budget has been reserved for one road and one motorable bridge in Salyan. Spokesperson Oli said budget has been allocated for the construction of one road and four suspension bridges in Jumla. Budget has been allocated for the construction of one road and four suspension bridges in Humla.

A road and five suspension bridges are to be constructed in Kalikot. Budget has been allocated for three roads, two cemented bridges and seven suspension bridges in Dolpa. According to Oli, the source of 85 projects has been fixed so far against the resource of 109 projects. He said that the work will start by calling for tender in the current fiscal year.

Discussion with the World Bank Delegation

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The construction of physical infrastructure in Karnali state with the financial assistance of the World Bank has been reviewed. The World Bank has invested in road infrastructure in 10 districts of Karnali province.

The bank has been working in the infrastructure sector in coordination with the provincial government. Minister Budha said that the discussion was also held on the effective implementation of works implemented in the past and to make investment in the future. The meeting was attended by World Bank Nepal Chief Renu Aneja, Secretary at the Ministry Arjun Kumar Bam and a team from the Provincial Project Management Unit, Surkhet, among others.

The meeting discussed the problems and challenges faced while carrying out development works in the district. Currently, works are being carried out in Humla, Kalikot and Dailekh. The World Bank has been investing 80 percent of the budget in the provinces where it works. Minister Budha said that procedural works are underway to carry out infrastructure works in other districts as well. The main objective is to connect the centre of the municipality with road infrastructure. The Provincial and Local Road Improvement Project and Provincial Project Management Unit are carrying out works in Karnali.

Aneja, who looks after the Nepal sector of the World Bank, complained that although works were carried out in 10 districts of Karnali, the work could not be gained due to lack of cooperation from the office.