Critical Roadmap
As it comes during critical transitional phase, the interim plan has assumed higher significance
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The National Development Council (NDC) has approved the approach paper of the three-year interim plan, which focuses on reconstruction, rehabilitation and infrastructure development, among others. The interim plan period will begin from coming fiscal year 2007/08 (starting from mid-July) and will follow the Tenth Five Year Plan.
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"The NDC meeting has given a message that now the development will move forward based on understanding," said Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, vice chairperson of National Planning Commission (NPC).
The plan also accords top priority to communications, transportation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. The plan formulated by National Planning Commission – which has representatives of major political parties – has aimed to spend Rs 587.77 billion on development activities in the next three years.
It has set ambitious aims of economic growth, development expenditure and foreign assistance. It aims that there will be 5.5 percent average annual growth of economy; and plans to bring down the percent of population below poverty line to 24. During the period of Tenth Plan, economy had grown merely by 3.4 percent.
The interim plan aims to invest Rs 587 billion in the next three years, achieve a 5.5 percent annual growth rate and reduce the poverty level to 24 percent. "Quite ambitious," says Dr. Shankar Sharma, former vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC). Given the fact that the economy is growing at minimal rate of just over 2 percent this year, it is, indeed, ambitious to expect 5.5 percent growth next year.
Earlier, inaugurating the NDC meeting on Sunday (June 24), Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala urged them to consider formulating region-wise separate plans for hill, Terai and mountains. "Social, geographic and economic situation in three regions are completely different," he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Works and Physical Planning Hisila Yami also came up with her Ministry's plan of constructing the east-west highway across the northern hilly region. At a press meet, last week, Yami also came out with plans ranging from short and medium to long-term (1 to 3 to 20 years). She informed that the government aimed to connect with road the headquarters of Bajhang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Jajarkot districts within this year.
The Ministry's plan also includes improving postal roads and roads in Inner Terai and hilly regions. The plan includes building 30 bridges and 4200 km of roads. It also includes plans to link Humla, Manang and Khotang district with roads. It also aims building tunnel way linking capital valley with Terai as well as building ropeways and railway lines.
SECOND STAGE VERIFICATION COMMENCES
The second stage verification process of Maoist PLA in cantonments formally commenced from Tuesday (June 19) from Chulachuli camp in Ilam. Over 3000 Maoist personnel gathered for the verification process, from the three outlying satellite sites on the first day.
"The process involves individual interviews to determine whether each person registered as a combatant was over the age of 18 on 25 May 2006, and that they had joined the Maoist army before that date," states a press release by the UNMIN.
UN verification teams are led by an UNMIN arms monitor, and each team includes a UNICEF child protection officer and specialist UNDP registration personnel.
There are over 100 UN staffs involved in this verification process. General Jan Erik Wilhelmsen flew by UN helicopter to Chulachuli, with Maoist Deputy Commander Pasang, to oversee the beginning of the verification process. He said, from Chulachuli, "I am very pleased that the verification process is finally underway. The cooperation with Maoist army personnel on the ground in Chulachuli today has been excellent, and after a late start due to heavy rains the process has gone ahead smoothly."
According to the statement, the UN will not be publishing numbers of Maoist army personnel verified each day. At the end of the verification process in Chulachuli, a similar process will begin in the next cantonment site working westward through all seven main cantonment sites.
"UNMIN cannot say at this stage how long the process will take, but will have a clearer timeline after the experience of the first week of the process on the ground."
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has welcomed the beginning of the second stage of registration (verification). "This is a crucial stage of the implementation of the Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies," he said. "The Secretary-General reiterates to all parties the need to cooperate in the creation of a conducive environment to holding the Constituent Assembly election later this year," he is quoted as saying.
