KATHMANDU: The government has invested Rs 349 billion in 24 national pride projects so far. Among the 24 projects, only the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has been completed. Even though the Melamchi Water Supply Project has been completed, uncertainty looms over it due to the damage caused by recent floods and landslides. Both these projects have been completed and inaugurated.
Apart from these two projects, all other projects have been under construction since a long time. Besides the Upper Tamakoshi and Melamchi projects, construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport have made remarkable progress. Apart from these four projects, other projects have not shown encouraging result.
According to the 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General, a dozen of national pride projects have made less than 50 percent progress, both in terms of finance and physical infrastructure.
The progress of the West Seti Hydropower and Power Transmission Project started in 2011 is negligible. Even though the project has kicked off, with the estimated cost, no expenditure has been made so far.
Only two projects have made progress of 80 to 90 percent. These projects include Pashupati Area Development Trust and Lumbini Area Development Trust. A total of Rs 551 billion and Rs 870 million have been spent on Lumbini Area Development Trust and Pashupati Area Development Trust respectively. Both of these projects are slated to be completed in the current fiscal year.