Voices October 2012

‘We must adopt ‘tunnel technology’ for construction of roads in Nepal’

Hridayesh Tripathi, Minister for Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management, explaining that tunnels make roads shorter and secure and constructing tunnels will give respite from problems related to long winding roads.

 

‘We were the first one to propose BOOT model for infrastructure development’

Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Former Finance Minister and Nepali Congress leader, claiming that his party had first proposed to introduce BOOT model for Kathmandu-Terai fast track and emphasised the private sector must follow the model for infrastructure projects that have profit making possibilities.

Atma Ram Murarka, President of Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nepal (CMAN), while agreeing that the use of laminated sacks may be environment friendly it is simply not possible for the cement producers to switch their packing system from the existing woven sacks within 91 days as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.

 

‘The entrepreneurs do not have a hand in determining vegetable prices’

Khom Prasad Ghimire, Chairman of Federation of Fruit & Vegetable Entrepreneurs Nepal, clarifying that prices are affected as per demand and supply mechanism where low production leads to high prices and high production coupled with easy availability help stabilise prices.

 

‘We were the first one to propose BOOT model for infrastructure development’

Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Former Finance Minister and Nepali Congress leader, claiming that his party had first proposed to introduce BOOT model for Kathmandu-Terai fast track and emphasised the private sector must follow the model for infrastructure projects that have profit making possibilities.

 

‘Oman Air will actively pursue opportunities to expand its current operations in Nepal’

John Rodrigues, the Country Manager of Oman Air for Nepal, saying that the Muscat-based national airline of Oman has not finalized any immediate plans for expansion in Nepal, however, it is looking at opportunities to do so in the future.

 

‘The government cannot force us to make laminated sacks mandatory for packing cement’

Atma Ram Murarka, President of Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nepal (CMAN), while agreeing that the use of laminated sacks may be environment friendly it is simply not possible for the cement producers to switch their packing system from the existing woven sacks within 91 days as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.

 

‘About 30 per cent of Nepal’s population is capable of buying insurance policies’

Binod Aryal, Executive Director of Insurance Board (IB) of Nepal, observing that the insurance companies have only reached about 6-7 per cent population because of their unwillingness to go to the remote areas as they earn profits in the cities.