Construction Businessman Ramesh Sharma Taken to Ministry for Discussion on Project Hindrances

Kathmandu. Sharma & Company operator and construction businessman Ramesh Sharma was taken to the Ministry of Urban Development by a police team from his office in Sitapaila on Monday morning. 

When the police took Sharma to the ministry, claiming it was an order from the minister, a wave of rumors spread in the construction business circles that he had been arrested. However, Sharma clarified that he was not arrested but taken to the ministry for discussion.

According to Sharma, after not responding to some phone calls, the police team reached his office and said he had to be 'handed over' to the ministry. Although he initially inquired about a warrant, the police behaved politely and said they were only taking him to the ministry for a meeting, after which he agreed to go to Singhdarbar. 

Businessman Pitambar Badoo was also taken to the ministry through the same process. Sharma clarified that although it was unusual for the police to go to the office and take the businessman, he was not kept in custody.

The main discussion at the ministry focused on the obstacles seen in the work of the Naubise-Muglin road project. In the meeting, Sharma drew the government's attention to the lack of construction materials, the excessive price increase of diesel and bitumen, and the legal problems seen in the excavation of riverbed materials. He demanded that the provision that allows other crusher industries to obtain materials after conducting EIA and paying revenue should also be applied to construction businessmen.

During the discussion, Sharma prominently raised the issue of the price and availability of bitumen. He said, 'It is very difficult to bring bitumen to Nepal now. Before the Gulf War, the price of bitumen was 85-90 rupees, while it has now reached 190.'

Similarly, diesel has also increased from 135-137 to 237 rupees. Our point is that the price increase should not cause businessmen to go bankrupt and the country's infrastructure construction should not stop.' He also urged the government to take initiative through G-to-G means to facilitate bitumen imports.

Sharma said that although it was wrong to send the police to pick up businessmen, the government appears willing to expedite development construction work. He mentioned that the message from Monday's discussion was that the government wants infrastructure to be built on time, and businessmen are also ready to cooperate in this.

He believes that the Federation of Construction Entrepreneurs has repeatedly urged the government to find solutions to the problems jointly, and the government's proactivity is necessary in this.