Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah held discussions with the members of the House of Representatives representing Lumbini Province today. On the occasion, Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leader and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun suggested Prime Minister Balendra Shah Balen to forward different development projects.

On the occasion, Minister Pun drew the attention of the PM to forward works by prioritizing ongoing development projects and some new projects in Rolpa and Lumbini provinces.

He also drew the attention of PM Oli to bring the Bhairahawa Regional International Airport into operation at the earliest. He also stressed that there should not be any further delay in holding diplomatic dialogue with India regarding air route for operation of international flights. “There should not be any delay in opening the door to tourism possibilities by setting up a labour desk at Bhairahawa Airport and regularizing international flights,” Pun said. ’

Pun also demanded to expedite the construction of martyr road linking Dolpa via Koilabas-Rolpa-Rukum in Dang. He said the road that touches the border with northern neighbour China is of strategic importance. He also urged the government to make arrangement of budget for blacktopping of Ghorahi-Holeri section of Shahid Marg and upgradation of Sulichaur to Uwa of Rolpa.

He also urged the government to forward the construction of Madi Multipurpose Hydropower Project in Rolpa. The construction of the multipurpose hydropower project at Rolpa Municipality 1 and 2 was halted with the joint investment of the government-owned Hydro Electricity and Investment Development Company Limited and China’s Power Construction Corporation.

Pun also stressed the need to forward the Gandaki Economic Triangle Project which was included in the budget of fiscal year 2008/082 when he was the Finance Minister. He was of the view that a new economic centre could be developed in partnership with the private sector by keeping Bharatpur, Butwal and Pokhara in three angles to run a model development campaign as per the integrated development concept.

The Narayangadh-Butwal section would be developed as the hub of construction materials and heavy industries, the Muglin-Pokhara section as the hub of agriculture and food processing industry and the Pokhara-Butwal section as the hub of electronic appliances, shoes, clothes, carpet and household goods and services. The KP Sharma Oli-led government had scrapped the Gandak Tribhuvan Project by amending the budget after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML reached a seven-point agreement on power equation on July 31, 2008.

Pun also suggested the government to forward integrated development projects along with irrigation, fertilizer, seeds, modern agro tools and market management in Lumbini Province, which is fertile land of the country for agro production. Pun also demanded to allocate some projects on the recommendation of lawmakers for the proportional distribution for the development of only 165 constituencies. He recalled that this tradition existed in the past as well.