Ms. Dil Kumari Rawal, the Chairperson of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly, presiding over the discussion program on the updates of MCA-Nepal conducted on 19 March 2023.
MCA-Nepal presented its progress on the implementation of MCC Nepal Compact projects to the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly on 19 March 2023.
Stating that the projects under MCA-Nepal were a matter of national interest and national concern, Ram Prasad Ghimire, Revenue Secretary, Ministry of Finance, expressed determination that they would be completed on time.
Presenting on the progress and plans of the project, Mr. Khadga Bahadur Bisht, Executive Director of MCA-Nepal, apprised the committee of the ongoing preparation works related to site access for the Electricity Transmission Project. The completion of land acquisition and the ongoing Livelihood Restoration Program in Nuwakot, the release of major tenders for transmission lines and substations, and the initiation of land acquisition work for transmission lines in six districts were among the major updates provided by MCA-Nepal in the meeting.
Mr. Bisht informed the Committee that the project will set up Compensation Fixation Committees in 10 districts, which would announce the rates, register the land in the name of the development board, determine the ownership area of the transmission line, and distribute compensation.
Mr. Khadga Bahadur Bisht, Executive Director of MCA-Nepal, sharing the progress of MCA-Nepal in the discussion program conducted by the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly on 19 March 2023 in presence of Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire, Revenue Secretary, Ministry of finance, and Mr. Ananda Kafle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance.
The Parliamentary Committee was also informed that the contractors would be selected through an international competition based on price, capacity, and quality before the MCC Nepal Compact would enter the implementation phase in August 2023.
Members of the committee noted the progress as satisfactory and suggested working with determination to achieve the projected target within the stipulated period.
Ms. Dil Kumari Rawal, the Chairperson of the committee, shared in conclusion that the committee has instructed the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to coordinate with concerned parties and monitor the implementation including problems faced in land acquisition, forest area use, and land occupancy rights.
The committee has decided to instruct Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and MCA-Nepal to execute and monitor the project addressing problems related to land acquisition, utilization of forest land, compensation against the Right of Way coordinating with concerned authorities and stakeholders as the project had to be completed within fixed timeframe.
The meeting has also directed to make the MCA-Nepal Board of Directors inclusive.
