GOOD NEWS !! GOOD NEWS !! Government Emphasizes Hydro-Power, Infrastructure Development Source:Republica KATHMANDU, July 14: The budget for fiscal year 2013/14, which Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala unveiled on Sunday, has laid emphasis on infrastructure development, including hydropower projects, transmission lines, infrastructure, irrigation projects, and promotion of some export oriented industries. Programs to promote foreign investment have also been included in the budget by drafting the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act. The government has added Pashupati Area Development, Lumbini Area Development Trust, President´s Chure Conservation Program, and Bheri-Babai Diversion Projects to the list of national pride projects. The government has prioritized public private partnership policy to develop physical infrastructures and increase private sector investment. For this, the government is providing additional resources to the Investment Board Nepal, which has been formed to channelize investments for big projects. It will also enact a law related to special economic zones to support export-oriented industries. 1. "ENERGY" The budget has allocated Rs 30 billion to improve hydropower generation, build transmission lines and enhance distribution system. It has also set aside Rs 1.05 billion for Tanahu Hydropower Project (140 MW) -- the second reservoir project in the country. Construction works on the project will begin in 2013/14. Similarly, the government has allocated Rs 13.5 billion for construction of north-south corridor transmission line and Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur and Kataiya-Kushaha cross border transmission lines. The government has allocated Rs 4.66 billion for Upper Trishuli 3A (60 MW), Upper Modi (42 MW), Rahughat (32), Chamelia (30MW) and Kulekhani III hydropower projects. It has introduced a program to connect light 125,000 households with solar energy. The government will also provide grants to FM radio stations that are interested to install panels. 2. "ROADS" The government has put focus on construction of strategic roads, bridges and the renovation of roads and road safety. It aims to connect the district headquarters of Dolpa and Humla to national road network in the new fiscal year. The government aims to wrap up road expansion drive in the capital win the coming fiscal year. It has allocated Rs 1.81 billion for the purpose. A separate transportation safety work plan will be implemented to reduce number of road accidents. Computerized vehicle fitness test centre will be introduced for the scientific test of vehicles in 201/14. Vehicle registration card and drivers´ licenses will be changed into smart cards. Similarly, the government aims to introduce embossed number plates in the new fiscal year. 3. "AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION" The budget has earmarked Rs 6.07 billion to provide grant to procure organic and chemical fertilizer, seeds, technology and mechanization of the agriculture sector. The government has announced to providing 50 percent capital grants for the establishment of organic fertilizers factory. It is launching maize production program in 16 districts in the new fiscal year. The extension of Babai Irrigation Project toward the east and starting the work of tunnel of Bheri-Diversion Multipurpose project have also been included in the annual program. 4. "EDUCATION" The government will make basic education free and compulsory. Two community schools with excellent results in SLC examinations in all districts will be awarded with Rs 500,000 each. The awarded schools will have to transfer skills and experiences to the neighboring schools with poor results. The government will train 153,314 teachers with career development package. Computer and Internet facilities will be installed in 7,143 public schools within 2013/14. The government has allocated Rs 1 billion for the purpose. 5. "TOURISM" To promote Nepal as an attractive and a safe tourist destination, the government has allocated budget for the development of infrastructure. It has allocated funds to develop infrastructures in Shree Antu, Tistung, Dhorpatan, Ranimahal, Rara, Khaptad, Ramaroshan and Chisapani area. Similarly, it has set aside Rs 1.81 billion for feasibility study, construction, upgradation and land acquisition for airports in Tikapur, Dolpa, Rukum, Illam, Lamidanda and Bhojpur. Likewise, it will add necessary equipment at airports in Rara, Simikot and Lukla. The government has set aside budget to conduct feasibility study for airports in Tansen of Palpa and Triyuga of Udaypur. As a part of enhancing air safety, the government will install new radar and necessary technology at Tribhuvan International Airport. It will also focus on capacity enhancement of the country´s only international airport. Budget has also been allocated for developing Biratnagar, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, and Surkhet airport as hub airports. To promote eco friendly tourism and develop trekking routes, the government has set aside Rs 630 million. In a bid to promote domestic tourism, the government has made it mandatory for public enterprises and category ´A´ and ´B´ banks and financial institutions that are making profits to introduce 7-day paid leave for their employees. Similarly, the government will develop necessary infrastructures to list Lo Manthang in Mustang in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Besides, the government has allocated Rs 130 million for renovation and conservation of religious and cultural sites of archaeological importance. It has set aside another Rs 430 million for strengthening cultural academy and museums in different parts of the country. 6. "IT AND COMMUNICATIONS" Through the budget, the government has made budgetary allocation for upgradation of Computer Forensic Laboratory to increase credibility in IT sector. Similarly, it will start preliminary works to digitalize state-run Nepal Television (NTV) by 2017. The government has also set aside funds to enable NTB start third channel within this fiscal year. It also plans to establish regional transmission centers of NTV in Itahari and Kohalpur and bring them in operation this year. To reduce expenditure of government media, the government plans to use common stringers for Radio Nepal, NTV, Gorkhapatra Corporation and Rastriya Samachar Samiti - the state-owned news agency. The government has also decided to increase budget for Public Service (PSA) by 25 percent. The government also plans to expand optical fiber network along Banepa- Bardiwas road section of BP Highway and establish 30 community e-Centers. It ha allocated Rs 50 million to establishment data center in Hetauda and Rs 120 million to construct building for B P Planetarium in Dharan. 7. "INDUSTRY" The government is formulating Industrial Enterprises Act as per the Industrial Policy within this fiscal year. It will make necessary amendments to Company Act and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act. Similarly, the government has unveiled plans to prepare industrial profile of all 75 districts. It also aims to carry out test production of electricity from natural gas in Kathmandu. The government has allocated Rs 1.23 billion for construction of access road, electricity transmission line and sub station in places where cement factories are under construction. It aims to complete construction of access roads to 5 cement factories in this fiscal year. The government has decided to industrial exhibition area in Chobhar. It has also allocated budget to acquire land for building dry port in Chobhar. Budget has also been allocated to establish Nepal Industrial Center for Excellence. Budgetary allocations have also been made to set up local exhibition and sales counters in Kathmandu, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Handicraft and Design Center, handicraft village and goods collection center, among others. 8. "HEALTH SERVICES" The government has adopted a policy to make basic health services free for all citizens. Similarly, it will provide free treatment to heart patients above 75 years and children below 15 years. Likewise, it plans to expand free dialysis service for kidney patients to regional level. The government will also establish senior citizen wards in some government hospitals. The government is also taking necessary steps to fix price and quality of health and laboratory services of nursing home and private hospitals. It also aims to implement social security service and implement insurance program across the country within five years. This program will be started in 15 districts this year. The government will distribute warm clothes and child care products at birthing from this year. It aims to upgrade 500 sub-health posts into health post and establish 238 additional health service centers within this fiscal year. Similarly, National Vaccination Fund will be established and necessary legal mechanism will be put in place to make vaccination program sustainable.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 06:18:58 +0000
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