Mountainous region vital in Nepal's economy

RSS

BHAKTAPUR, Oct. 2: The mountainous region has vital role in the economy of Nepal but as policy, programme and plan for its integrated development could not be formulated, the country has not been able to achieve the set target, say the experts in this field.

Participants at a programme on sustainable development of the high altitude mountains organised by the Secretariat of the International Year of the mountains, 2002, have attributed the lack of development of this region to the shortage of data, correct identification of the needs, non-participation of the locals and non-mobilisation of the local means and resources, and emphasised the need for the government to formulate and implement decentralised plans and projects in the region.

Inaugurating the workshop, member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said that considering the fact that unless the mountainous and the hilly regions are developed, development of the country is meaningless, the government was introducing concrete programme for it development.

Stating that if the transport services could be provided to the region, development of tourism, agriculture and biodiversity would take place, thereby increasing the employment opportunities and enhancing income generation and the concept of Karnali development authority has also been mooted for the development of the zone.

Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Chandi Prasad Shrestha said that the seminar would arrive at specific conclusion on the strategy to be adopted for the development and investment promotion of the mountainous region.

Dr. Harka Gurung presented a working paper on the economic development of the region.

Dr. Tirtha Man Maskay, planning expert Dr. Mohan Man Sainju, botanist Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha, Chandra Prasad Gurung of the World Wildlife Fund, Tek Bahadur Dangi of the Nepal Tourism Board and a host of other speakers expressed their views on the occasion.

Former DDC chairmen of the mountainous region and concerned experts are attending the two-day workshop.