KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to move ahead with the process of purchasing aircraft transparently, leaving no room for any error and dispute. He gave this directive in the joint briefing and discussion programme of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Water Supply held at the Singha Durbar today.
“Questions are always raised in aircraft purchase deals in Nepal. Let there be no room for them this time. The aircraft purchase process should be cent per cent correct, error-free and transparent. There should be no mistakes and questions like in the past in the procurement process this time,” he reiterated.
The PM also spoke on the need to change several of our tourism-related policies and regulations as they are not tourist-friendly. “Let us all think about creating a conducive environment for the tourists. You bring the proposals and let us attract tourists by opening up the prohibited areas. Night-time services should also be opened in the tourist areas and the government should be flexible in this too,” he said. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati said the airports constructed based on ‘political pressure’ were not operating in an effective way, stressing the need to construct airports only on the need-basis in the coming days.
He said a solution should be sought for the areas prohibited for tourists and suggested making diplomatic initiation for operating the Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports at their full capacity. On the occasion, PM Dahal instructed the bodies concerned to immediately resolve the problem of the consumers having to pay water tariffs even for dry taps. He directed for writing off the water tariff of consumers not getting water supply. He also called for further expediting works on the Melamchi Water Supply Project while expressing happiness over the works currently being carried out in two shifts as per the 28-day integrated action plan for bringing 170 million litres water daily from Melamchi to Sundarijal of Kathmandu within a month.
The PM also urged the bodies concerned to look for other sources of water to supply water in the Kathmandu Valley which has a daily demand of 250 million litres water. Water Supply Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav, Minister Kirati, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushila Shreepali, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Water Supply Ministry secretary Suresh Acharya, Culture Secretary Deepak Kafle, Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar, among the officials put their views on topics related to works and responsibilities of their respective ministries.
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