MPs raise concerns over dairy payments, road safety, public services in HoR session

KATHMANDU: Members of Parliament raised a range of public concerns in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, including timely payments to dairy farmers, road safety on the Karnali Highway, healthcare services, disaster risks and consumer protection.

During Zero Hour, Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Madhu Kumar Chaulagain urged the government to implement the investigation report on alleged irregularities at the Dairy Development Corporation and to ensure dairy farmers receive payments on time. Basu Maya Tamang of the same party called for action against consumer fraud, saying many households receive under-filled cooking gas cylinders. Bidushi Rana pressed for improved telecommunications services in remote areas of Karnali Province, while Bina Gurung demanded that Ghandruk be developed as an international tourist destination.

Buddha Ratna Maharjan highlighted recurring transport disruptions caused by landslides and poor road conditions in Bagmati rural municipality of Lalitpur district. Bharat Prasad Parajuli called on the government to expedite the process of providing land ownership certificates for landless people. Madhav Bahadur Thapa warned that shortages of medical supplies in public hospitals were affecting treatment services, and Raj Kishor Mahato Koiri said shortages of cancer medicines had affected thousands of patients nationwide.

Ranju Neupane raised concerns over recurrent monsoon flooding in Kathmandu constituency no. 1. Lawmakers from opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN UML, also pressed the government on a host of national issues. NC lawmaker Bharat Bahadur Khadka drew attention to delays in rebuilding homes for survivors of the Jajarkot earthquake, and Man Maya BK urged stronger measures to end violence and discrimination against the Dalit community. NC lawmaker Mohan Acharya alleged that communities affected by an under-construction hydropower project in Rasuwa district had not received promised benefits.

CPN UML lawmaker Rajendra Kumar Rai said around 7,000 dairy farmers in Dhankuta district were yet to receive payment for milk supplied to the state-owned corporation. Ringala Yadav of the UML warned that the contribution of residents of Susta in safeguarding Nepal’s territorial integrity should not be overlooked.

Other MPs who spoke during Zero Hour included Ramesh Prasai, Mohanlal Acharya, Dr Firdaush Alam, Reena Upreti KC, Rukmini Devi Koirala, Renuka Kauncha and Bhumika Shrestha, who drew the government’s attention to various local and national issues.

Emergency Hour

MPs representing Karnali Province unanimously urged the government to intensify the search for a passenger bus that plunged into the Karnali River in Dailekh district five days ago. During Emergency Hour they pressed the government to prioritise upgrading the Karnali Highway and to devise a comprehensive plan to reduce road accidents.

NC chief whip Basana Thapa said it was unfortunate that authorities had been unable to determine what happened to the bus travelling from Surkhet to Kalikot despite five days of search efforts. “This is not a new tragedy for us. Blood is being spilt on Karnali’s roads almost every day,” she said, adding that roads in Karnali Province had virtually ceased to be roads and that every journey forced people to risk their lives.

Khadga Shahi demanded that the government inform Parliament about the latest developments in the search operation. CPN (UML) MP Yashuda Kumari Baral called for a special programme to upgrade the Karnali Highway and curb road accidents. Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi said it was astounding that neither the bus nor its passengers had been found five days after the vehicle plunged into the Karnali River and demanded action against those responsible for any negligence.

Ramesh Kumar Sapkota of the ruling RSP voiced similar concerns and called for a prompt probe into whether the road meets required construction and safety standards.

It is reported that a passenger bus with registration Karnali Province 02 001 Kha 1055, travelling from Surkhet to Kalikot, veered off the road at around 11:30 am in Sangetada, ward no. 7 of Chamundabindrasaini municipality in Dailekh district and plunged into the Karnali River five days ago. With the bus still missing, MPs from Karnali Province renewed calls for an update on search efforts and urged the government to expedite the long-overdue upgrading of the Karnali Highway to improve safety and prevent similar tragedies.

By RSS