Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Bishwa Prakash Sharma has emphasized the importance of prioritizing national projects like the Budhigandaki Multi-Purpose Hydropower Project without budgetary or operational hurdles. Speaking during the deliberations on the Appropriation Bill-2081 BS in the House of Representatives, Sharma urged the government to clarify the project's operational model.

He mentioned, "We have already withdrawn the decision to give it to a foreign company. If the soft loan is managed for its implementation, it is better. But, we should not opt for foreign loans with a high interest rate."

Sharma suggested that a government-diaspora-private (GDP) model would be suitable for the project and advised against using budget deficits or economic crises as excuses for its non-implementation. He also proposed developing the project site into a touristic location, expressing hope that both ruling and opposition parties would support the project's implementation.

CPN (UML) Lawmaker Bhattarai's Emphasis on Budget Policy Changes
CPN (UML) lawmaker Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai called for policy and structural changes in the budget-making process. He criticized the current approach of filling the budget book with 'small pocket' projects and urged for improvements in capital expenditure and financial management. Bhattarai also highlighted the need to advance the Tamor Reservoir Project, citing its investment potential and the importance of the energy sector for Nepal's prosperity.

Maoist Centre's Chief Whip Pandey's Proposal on Irrigation Facilities
Chief Whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey, proposed extending irrigation facilities in Chitwan east and Nawalpur west by constructing a dam on the Trishuli river at Devghat. Participating in the discussions on the Appropriation Bill-2081 BS, Pandey argued that increasing irrigation facilities would boost agricultural production and employment. He emphasized the need for round-the-year irrigation and the digitalization of irrigation systems, as well as the importance of addressing the impact of climate change on water resources projects.

Pandey also called for the use of new technologies in energy and transportation, such as hydrogen energy and pod-wells, to enhance the country's infrastructure and development efforts.