CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Barshaman Pun urges Prime Minister to prioritize key development projects

Kathmandu. CPN (Maoist Centre) leader and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has advised Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) to advance various development projects.

Prime Minister Shah held discussions with members of the House of Representatives elected from Lumbini Province on Monday. During the meeting, Pun drew the Prime Minister's attention to prioritizing ongoing and new development projects in his constituency of Rolpa and Lumbini Province.

Pun urged the Prime Minister to bring the Bhairahawa Regional International Airport into immediate operation. He emphasized that there should be no delay in initiating diplomatic dialogue with India regarding air routes for international flights.

'There should be no further delay in opening the doors of potential in the tourism sector by establishing a labor desk at Bhairahawa Airport and regularizing international flights,' said Pun. 'I would like to draw the attention of the honorable Prime Minister to initiate diplomatic efforts with India for international air routes.'

Pun demanded that the construction of the Shahid Marg, connecting Koilabash in Dang to Rolpa, Rukum, and Dolpa, be accelerated. He noted the strategic importance of the road, which reaches the border of the northern neighbor, China.

He requested budget allocation for the blacktopping of the Ghorahi-Holeri section of the Shahid Marg and the upgrading of the road from Sulichaur to Uwa in Rolpa. Pun also demanded that the government advance the Madi Multipurpose Hydropower Project in Rolpa. The project, designed under a joint investment model between the state-owned Hydro Electricity Investment and Development Company Limited and China's Power Construction Corporation to dam the Madi River in Rolpa Municipality-1 and 2, has been stalled.

Pun also emphasized the need to advance the Gandaki Economic Triangle project, which was included in the budget for the fiscal year 081/082 during his tenure as Finance Minister. He stated that by placing Bharatpur, Butwal, and Pokhara at three corners and advancing the triangle project in partnership with the private sector under an integrated development concept, a new economic hub could be developed, which could play a 'game-changer' role in the country's overall economy.

Under the triangle project, the Narayangadh-Butwal section was proposed as a hub for construction materials and heavy industries, the Mugling-Pokhara section for agriculture and food processing industries, and the Pokhara-Butwal section for industries related to electrical equipment, footwear, clothing, carpets, and household goods and services.

Following the 7-point agreement on the power-sharing equation reached between Congress and UML on the night of 081 Ashar 17, the KP Oli-led government, which replaced the Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'-led government, had amended the budget and scrapped the Gandaki Triangle project.

Similarly, Pun suggested advancing an integrated development project in Lumbini Province, which is the country's fertile land for agricultural production, including irrigation, fertilizers, seeds, modern agricultural tools, and market management.

Pun demanded that some projects be allocated based on the recommendations of lawmakers to ensure proportional distribution for the development of all 165 electoral constituencies. He recalled that such a tradition existed in the past.