Harka Raj Rai Draws Attention to Dharan's Development Needs in Parliament

Kathmandu. Chairman of the Labour Culture Party and Member of Parliament Harka Raj Rai has drawn the government's attention to prioritize various development projects and livelihood issues of Dharan in the upcoming fiscal year's budget and programs. Responding to the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives meeting on Monday, he urged the government to be accountable to the parliament. MP Rai, who was present with a special placard in the meeting, criticized the government, stating that despite having a constitution and laws, the people are unable to easily obtain basic necessities such as drinking water, roads, and salt. Reminding the points in the memorandum submitted to the Finance Minister, he demanded the allocation of necessary budgets for Dharan and surrounding areas. MP Rai demanded the initiation of the 'Saptakoshi Dharan Drinking Water Project' to solve the drinking water crisis, which is the main problem in Dharan. Similarly, he demanded budget for embankment construction on the Sardu, Seuti, Sera, and Andheri rivers in Dharan to protect settlements and for the construction of a 'Sanitary Landfill Site' for waste management. For road infrastructure, he drew attention to the upgrading and blacktopping of the Dharan-Barahkshetra-Nadaha road, Bhalbhauchauri road, Chatara-Suryakunda road, and roads connecting various wards of Dharan. He also demanded the construction of motorable bridges over Koka Khola, Masane Khola, and in the Nisan Danda area. He also emphasized the issues of family reunification of Bhutanese refugees, formation of a task force to solve the problems of freed Kamaiyas, and the need to define the positions of non-categorized employees of national parks. He also demanded permission for his party to reconstruct one of the structures within Singha Durbar that was damaged during past protests, pledging that his party would rebuild it solely through labor contribution without government expenditure. Expressing anger that the people are not receiving food, shelter, clothing, and infrastructure despite having a constitution and laws, he strongly drew the government's attention, stating, 'A country with a constitution, a country without food to eat; a country with laws, a country without salt to eat.'