MP Lima Adhikari Questions Classification and Cost Escalation of National Pride Projects

Kathmandu. National Independent Party MP Lima Adhikari has questioned the classification and cost escalation of national pride projects.

Speaking at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, MP Adhikari raised such questions. Her analysis is that the state treasury has been burdened by billions due to the tendency to increase the number of strategically important projects based on political interests but not complete them. According to Adhikari, the cost of the Babai Irrigation Project has increased from 2 billion to 18 billion, while the cost of railway and metro development has skyrocketed from 70 billion to 955 billion (13 times more).

'What is the justification for keeping 27 projects in the pride list but completing only 4 in decades?', she questioned. Adhikari demanded an answer from the commission as to why legal action was not recommended against project chiefs, consultants, and contractors for delays.

She warned about the serious crisis that could arise when Nepal graduates from a least developed country after 2026. She specifically warned that with the end of TRIPS exemption in the health sector, medicines for deadly diseases like cancer would become unaffordable for Nepalis.

'An situation is coming where we will have to pay 8,000 times more for medicines that cost 30,000. Where is our smooth transition strategy for this?', she asked, demanding immediate preferential trade agreements with trade partners.