Far-western court: ‘Economic prosperity of the province is possible only through joint efforts’
Kailali: Speakers participating in the ‘Policy Debate on the Potential and Prosperity of the Far-Western Province’ session under the ‘Far-Western Court 2083’ that began in Dhangadhi on Saturday said that economic prosperity of the province is possible only through joint efforts.
Chief Secretary of the provincial government Baikuntha Aryal said that cooperation between the provincial, local and federal governments is necessary for the construction of development projects in the province. Stating that the provincial government is preparing for a development and investment conference to attract private sector and international investors, he informed that there is great potential for agricultural production in the southern part of the province, forest products in the intermediate region, and herbal and Himalayan livestock production in the northern region.
Chief Secretary Aryal mentioned that the Far-Western can be made a center for health education and medical production by operating the Shaheed Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University in Geta, Kailali.
Dr. Jeevan Rana, Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, said that Ramaroshan, Khaptad and Badimalika can be developed as a tourist circuit. She informed that priority will be given to provincial pride projects in the upcoming budget. She said that preparations are being made to implement the road network master plan, agricultural master plan and tourism master plan, and that budget will be allocated for religious and tourist sites that will make the province famous.
National Planning Commission member Arjun Jung Thapa informed that a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared to expand the Gaddachauki-Attariya-Chisapani road section into four lanes. He said that the postal highway will be completed within three years and a significant amount will be allocated for the Seti highway in the upcoming budget. According to him, there is a plan to connect Khaptad, Ramaroshan and Badimalika with the Karnali and Seti highways.
Speakers participating in the next session on ‘Practice of Federalism: Experience, Challenges and the Path to Reform’ said that federalism has become weak because the federal government has not transferred powers to the provinces.
Former Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim, Trilochan Bhatta, said that there is a negative debate on federalism as the rights of the provinces mentioned in the constitution are not being implemented in practice. Stating that the problem has arisen because the law on common rights has not been enacted on time, he said that the problem lies in the administrative and political thinking in the implementation of federalism.
Former Chief Minister Dirgha Bahadur Sodari said that although federalism was brought with the aim of bringing the government to the doorsteps of the people, it is being negatively promoted due to the tendency of not granting authority from the higher level.
Federalism expert Khimlal Devkota said that although the constitution has given police authority to the provinces, the federal government has not yet transferred it. He said that the provinces are facing problems in employee management due to the lack of a federal civil service act.
Fiscal federalism expert Somat Ghimire accused the provinces and local governments of not being given an environment to work independently in accordance with the spirit of federalism. Federalist expert Parashuram Upadhyay said that 35,000 people's representatives have participated in direct governance through the federal system and that the increase in women's participation is a positive achievement of federalism.
The third session discussed the history, identity, literature and music of the province. Former Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Rajendra Singh Rawal said that issues of mythological importance should be prioritized. He expressed the view that a clear policy is needed to promote religious tourism in the Sudurpaschim province under the Dewatavi circuit.
Yagyaraj Upadhyay, a member of the Academic Council of the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, said that a music and history study center should be established in the province. Former academic member of the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, Basudev Pandey, said that further research and exploration by government agencies is needed and that the Far West is still underdeveloped. The program was facilitated by journalists Tikaram Yatri, Manmohan Swar and Shivaraj Bhatta.