GANDAKI PROVINCE LAWMAKER ALleges RS 350 MILLION SPENT ON GARLANDS AND BOUQUETS

Pokhara. A lawmaker from Gandaki has accused the provincial government of spending nearly Rs 350 million on garlands and bouquets. Speaking during the zero hour of the Provincial Assembly meeting, lawmaker Damyanti Ruchal said that the government has spent 350 million on purchasing garlands. 'More than 350 million of citizens' taxes are being misused annually on purchasing garlands alone in state bodies. If we add garlands and tokens of appreciation, it is understood that billions of rupees are being misused,' she said, 'If tokens of appreciation must be given, let there be a provision to give the constitution, legal collections, and famous books by authors from Gandaki Province.' Her suggestion is to be creative in distributing tokens of appreciation. 'Giving books reduces expenses. I draw the government's attention to invest the money saved in this way in skill development, entrepreneurship, and production sectors,' she said.

During the zero hour, lawmaker Mahesh Bhattarai questioned why the Nepal Oil Corporation has not adjusted prices even though the price of crude oil has decreased in the international market. 'It is very unfortunate that even when fuel prices decrease in the international market, Nepali consumers still have to buy at the old expensive rates,' he said, 'The tendency to increase prices overnight when the market rises and to not decrease them by making various excuses when it falls is causing hardship to the Nepali people.' Many projects have not been contracted due to the increase in fuel prices. He had raised this issue before as well. 'I strongly demand that fuel prices be reduced and adjusted to international market prices,' he said.

Lawmaker Phanindra Devkota accused that road accidents are increasing and that Indian vehicles entering Nepal without hindrance are showing atrocities. Two children, aged 8 and 5, died in Markichowk, Tanahu, due to a collision with an Indian vehicle. 'Indian vehicles are currently entering freely,' he says, 'They do not follow lanes, and their speed is high. We are unable to monitor and regulate them.' Devkota demands that the government take quick action to reduce accidents caused in this manner.

Lawmaker Sunita Thapa complained that the government has not paid attention to the economic and social security of hearing and visually impaired individuals. 'They do not need charity but access based on rights, respect, opportunities to become self-reliant, and state responsibility,' Thapa says, 'I want to draw attention through the Speaker to ensure targeted policies and adequate resources for skill development and employment.'

Another lawmaker, Prakash Baral, demanded that doctors on scholarship contracts be sent immediately, citing problems in service delivery despite the installation of an X-ray machine at Annapurna Basic Hospital. 'Among the basic hospitals built simultaneously in Nepal, Annapurna Basic Hospital is the first. I thank the provincial government for providing convenience by providing an X-ray machine and other equipment,' he said, 'But at the same time, I urge the government to facilitate service delivery by immediately arranging for doctors and public health officers who have come on scholarship contracts.'

Lawmaker Shyamraja Mahat suggested building a 400-meter-long suspension bridge and a motorable road to attract tourists to the Millennium Cave area within the Millennium Trek. 'There is a Millennium Cave within the Millennium Trek connecting Kaski, Tanahu, and Syangja districts, which can accommodate one to two hundred people and has a 4-inch water spring inside,' he says, 'To attract tourists, let the Gandaki Provincial Government arrange a motorable bridge on the way there and a suspension bridge of about 4 to 500 meters above the cave.' The government has not provided responsible answers or implementation for the questions raised by the lawmakers.