Nepal's National Pride Projects Lag: Only 4 of 27 Completed

Kathmandu. The progress of 'National Pride Projects' put forward for the transformation of the country has been shameful and slow. According to the latest progress report of the National Planning Commission, only 4 out of the 27 pride projects announced so far have been completed. The remaining 23 projects are stuck in various stages. Among those that have come into operation, the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Regional International Airport, and the first phase of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project were completed a few years ago. National Planning Commission Member Secretary Ravilal Pantha said that legal and structural challenges are hindering the implementation of National Pride Projects. Presenting the commission's latest report, he mentioned that the pride projects have not been able to gain momentum as expected due to the lack of a separate law and weak preliminary preparations. Pantha said, 'Problems have arisen due to the lack of a detailed project report (DPR) and budget source assurance before the project announcement. In addition, land acquisition, tree cutting, and the cumbersome process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) have caused delays in work.' He also said that the projects are affected by the tendency of a single contractor to hold multiple contracts but not complete the work on time. Solution: 50 Percent Formula Member Secretary Pantha has also proposed some concrete solutions to improve these problems. He suggested that projects with more than 50 percent progress in the upcoming fiscal year should be provided with adequate budget to be completed within two years, and the scope of the remaining projects should be reviewed. He suggested making a separate law for pride projects and arranging for only one contract to be given to one firm. Progress of Irrigation Projects There are 6 irrigation projects among the National Pride Projects. The Babai Irrigation Project, started in fiscal year 2045/046, is still incomplete after 37 years. Its cost has increased from 12.67 billion to 18.96 billion 3 million. The physical progress of this project is 78.74 percent so far. Similarly, the cost of Sikta Irrigation, started in 2061/062, has increased from 12.8 billion to 52.89 billion, with only 47.5 percent physical progress. The progress of the Bheri-Babai Diversion, started in 2068/069, is 65 percent, Rani Jamara Kulariya is 74.76 percent, and Sun Koshi-Marin Diversion is 37.1 percent. The progress of the Mahakali Irrigation Project, started 19 years ago (in 2063/064), is only 26.6 percent. Source: National Planning Commission The Planning Commission has pointed out some common problems for the delay in the completion of these irrigation projects. Primarily, legal complexities in land acquisition, tree cutting, and compensation determination have obstructed canal construction. Additionally, delays in EIA approval and lack of construction materials have affected the projects. The commission has suggested focusing the budget on projects like Babai and Rani Jamara, which have more than 50 percent progress, to complete them within the next two years, and to review the scope of projects with low progress. West Seti Yet to Start Construction of the West Seti Hydropower Project has not yet begun. The cost of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, started 13 years ago, has increased from 260 billion to 406.02 billion. Its physical progress is only 10 percent. This project, started in fiscal year 2069/070, was targeted for completion in 2078 BS. The deadline has been extended to 2085 BS due to the modality not being finalized. The modality of this project has also just been finalized. The project has already distributed about 43 billion rupees (approximately 95 percent of compensation) for land and structures in the submerged area. More than 50 billion rupees have been spent from the state treasury in the name of preliminary preparation, but construction has not started. Three Electricity Projects Source: National Planning Commission The Planning Commission has identified difficulties in compensation determination, procedural delays in environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, and the tendency to announce projects without adequate preparation as the main reasons for delays in energy and hydropower projects. The commission has suggested that the government conduct external evaluations of long-pending projects and make concrete decisions. Karnali Corridor Weakest Among 6 Road Projects There have been significant fluctuations in the progress of road infrastructure among the National Pride Projects. According to the latest progress report of the National Planning Commission, among the 6 road projects, which are the largest in number among the 27 pride projects, the situation varies from encouraging to extremely slow. According to the commission, among the 6 pride road projects, the Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway has achieved the most progress, while the Karnali Corridor is in the weakest condition. The physical progress of the Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway, started in fiscal year 2064/065, has reached 82.9 percent. The financial progress of this project, estimated to cost 84.33 billion rupees, is 85.48 percent. The physical progress of the Hulaki Highway, considered the lifeline of the Terai-Madhesh region, is 73.35 percent. The revised cost of this project is 65.20 billion rupees, and its financial progress is 71.21 percent. The physical progress of the North-South (Kaligandaki Corridor) has reached 78.69 percent. The revised cost of this road is 24 billion rupees, and its financial progress is 76.39 percent. The physical progress of the strategically important Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway (Fast Track) is only 46.40 percent. The cost of this project, the most expensive among the pride road projects, is 211.93 billion rupees, and its financial progress is 45.88 percent. The physical progress of the North-South (Koshi Corridor) is 45.38 percent, and financial progress has reached 44.06 percent. Its total cost is 11.93 billion rupees. The physical progress of the North-South (Karnali Corridor), which is the slowest among the pride road projects, is only 17.16 percent. Its total cost is 666.19 million rupees. Source: National Planning Commission The commission has reported that during the on-site monitoring of Koshi, Pushpalal, and Karnali Corridors in fiscal year 2082/083, some serious technical errors were found. According to the commission, excessively steep gradients and sharp curves contrary to engineering standards in some road sections have increased the risk of accidents. Similarly, the commission has pointed out the need for re-alignment in such places as some road sections have been unnecessarily convoluted, increasing both distance and cost. The commission also stated that the work has been delayed due to a shortage of construction materials like stones, gravel, and sand during the monitoring. The main problem in management is the tendency of a single contractor or firm to hold contracts for multiple sections of the same road but not start work on time. The report mentions that some contractors have even become unreachable after taking the contract. To solve this problem, the commission has suggested making legal provisions to prevent a firm from holding more than one contract for a road project and adopting a strategy to complete projects with more than 50 percent progress within two years by providing adequate budget. Furthermore, the commission emphasized the need to immediately address the environmental complications and land acquisition problems seen in development work. International Airports: Two Completed, Nijgadh Still Uncertain There has been mixed success in the construction of international airports among the 'National Pride Projects' prioritized by the government. According to the latest progress report published by the National Planning Commission, out of the 3 pride airport projects, construction of 2 has been completed, while one project is still entangled in policy and legal complexities. Source: National Planning Commission According to the commission, Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa) and Pokhara Regional International Airport have been 'completed', while the Nijgadh Airport has not yet started construction. The construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa), started in fiscal year 2072/073, has achieved 100 percent physical and financial progress. With a total cost of 6.82 billion rupees, this airport has successfully established itself in the list of pride projects. The physical progress of Pokhara Airport, started in fiscal year 2074/075, is 99.5 percent, and financial progress is 92.1 percent. This project, with a cost of 22 billion rupees, is also technically completed and in the operation phase, according to the report. However, it is still uncertain whether Nijgadh International Airport will be built or not. Nijgadh International Airport, the third airport project among the 27 National Pride Projects, is still in the preliminary stage. According to the report, the commission has stated that the main problems in this project are delays in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval process and legal complexities related to tree cutting. Other main problems include the lack of a clear decision on how and in what format the project will be constructed, and difficulties in land acquisition and compensation determination. The Planning Commission has also suggested solutions by pointing out common problems seen in the construction of large infrastructure like airports. The commission has cautioned the government to amend environmental laws and announce such large projects only after determining the investment model (investment assurance). Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need to improve inter-agency coordination for the sustainable operation and further infrastructure expansion of under-construction and completed airports. For large projects like Nijgadh International Airport, the commission's analysis suggests that the work has not gained momentum due to the tendency to 'announce without preparation'. What is the Status of Other Projects? Among the three sports projects, Mulpani Cricket Academy has achieved 7 percent physical progress. Girija Prasad Koirala Cricket Stadium has 0.10 percent progress, and Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium is mentioned to be constructed by Bharatpur Metropolitan City. The commission states that there is 1 railway project (preliminary stage). Among the drinking water projects, the first phase of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, started in 2055/056, has achieved 99.52 percent physical progress. The Kathmandu Valley Wholesale Drinking Water Transmission Project (Second) is 10.45 percent complete. There are 2 religious and cultural projects, of which the Pashupati Area Development Trust has achieved 98.33 percent and the Lumbini Area Development Trust has achieved 68.25 percent physical progress. The President Chure Conservation Program has achieved 19 percent physical progress.