Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Former Industry Minister and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Som Prasad Pandey has urged the government to pay attention to the excavation and operation of mines with potential in Nepal.

Speaking at an interaction programme organized by the Rafat Sanchar Club here today, he said that economic transformation of Nepal would be possible if the petroleum resources discovered in Dailekh, uranium potential in Mustang and iron mine in Palpa could be systematized. According to him, proper utilization of natural resources can lead the country towards economic self-reliance.

Pandey said that petroleum exploration in Dailekh should not be limited to study and testing but should be taken to commercial production. “Nepal has been sending billions of rupees abroad every year to import petroleum products. ”

Speaking about the possibility of uranium in the Mustang area, he said the government should move ahead by considering its scientific study, its security and long-term national interest. Pandey said that the uranium mine of Mustang has linked the country to the world’s economic prosperity and there is uranium worth Rs 100 trillion and it should be brought into operation at the initiative of the government by avoiding various types of manipulation and foreign eyes.

He also said that proper excavation of iron mines and other mineral resources of Palpa would support the industrial sector. “Nepal can make a big leap economically if mining, hydropower, tourism and agriculture sectors are developed in an integrated manner,” he said.

Pandey said that despite the huge potential of hydropower and tourism in Nepal, the expected results could not be achieved due to lack of clear policy, long-term plan and effective implementation. He said economic transformation was the main political agenda of the country.

On the agriculture sector, he said that there was huge potential of increasing agricultural production in Nepal. He was of the view that Nepal could become export-oriented and not only self-reliant in agricultural production but also export-oriented with modern technology, marketing and encouragement to farmers.

He also stressed the need to implement the reports of the Human Rights Commission. He said that the state should be serious to bring the guilty to book and protect the innocent.

“The people have supported the incumbent government with great expectation and the government should focus on result-oriented works,” Pandey said. He also warned that the political parties would be rejected by the people if they failed to rectify their shortcomings according to the time.