House of Representatives
MPs demand effective measures to curb corruption

Kathmandu, Sept. 17 (RSS): The House of Representatives today continued discussions on appropriations heads pertaining to the Prime Minister’s office, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of General Administration, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and The National Planning Commission secretariat.

Taking part in the discussion, opposition MPs stressed the need to formulate and implement development plans best suited to the geographical and climatic conditions of the country, pursue a foreign policy based on national interest, implement a prograssive land reforms programme as recommended by the Badal Commission, make the Parliament Secretary more effective, give priority to domestic industries, abolish child labour and announce an effective programme for controlling corruption.

They also underlined the need to do adequate homework for obtaining membership of the World Trade Organisation and to form a commission to investigate the problem at the Bhairahawa and Birgunj dry ports.

The opposition members taking part in the discussions today were Dr Dilli Raj Khanal, Netra Lal Shrestha, Dr Banshidhar Mishra, Nara Bahadur Hamal, Om Prasad Ojha, Jagdish Prasad Saha, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Urmila Aryal, Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Dambar Singh Sambahamfe, Bijaya Subba, Lalbabu Pandit, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Sohan Prasad Chaudhari, Til Kumar Meyangbo, Suresh Kumar Karki, Nara Bahadur Budhathoki, Chandramani Kharal, Ratna Prasad Neupane and Tarasam Yangya.

Likewise, MPs from the treasury benchs spoke of the need to announce concrete programmes for improving the condition of ailing industries, uphold national interest while signing a trade treaty with india, construct an MPs residential quarters and a Parliament building, find a lasting solution to the shortage of foodgrain in Karnali Zone, pay adequate attention to the construction the Simikot-Hilsa road and slash administrative costs.

They also said that the country should adopt a balanced foreign policy, emphasis should be given to other crops in addition to horticulture in hill districts, privatisation should not be implemented at random and the Royal Nepalese Army mobilised as per the national need.

The MPs speaking today were Bharat Kumar Shaha, Rhidayaram Thani, Binaya Dhoj Chand and Ram Bahadur Bista.

Discussions on these appropriation heads will continue tomorrow also.

The House of Representatives meets again at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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