Problem surfaced as cable car project failed to embrace locals’ sentiments: NA lawmakers

KATHMANDU: Lawmakers, speaking in the ‘special hour’ in a meeting of the National Assembly today, said the proposed cable car construction project in Pathibhara has landed into controversy as the promoters of the project failed to take the locals’ sentiments into account.

They stressed that infrastructures should not be constructed at the cost of the natural and cultural heritages and traditions of religious sites.

Lawmaker from the CPN (Unified Socialist) Jayanti Devi Rai said problem surfaced after the cable car construction project was moved ahead in Pathibhara going against the local people’s sentiments.

Stating the religious place has virtually turned into a place of protest after the project for construction of cable car was started against the locals’ wishes, she urged the government to resolve the problem reaching an agreement with the locals.

She called attention of the government to carry out other development works like roads, water supply, education, sanitation and marketing of local produce catering to the community rather than the construction of concrete structure at the religious site.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Renu Chand said the Pathibhara area, a religious and cultural Mundhum site of the indigenous communities has remained disturbed over the topic of the construction of the cable car project. She also alleged that the local administration has used force against the demonstrators, calling on the government to provide free treatment and compensation to the protesters who were injured in course of the protest.

Chand argued that construction of cable car in Pathibhara was not appropriate as it infringes on the locals’ fundamental rights as well as their identity and social and cultural traditions.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Jeet Jung Basnet drew the attention of the government, citing the law related to the oath of secrecy as provisioned in Clause 3 of the Act Related to Oath of Office and Secrecy was not being followed by the public officials after their retirement.

CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Maya Prasad Sharma criticized the slow pace of rehabilitation and relief works in Jajarkot despite long time passed since earthquake struck the district.

Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of CPN (Maoist Centre) raised the issue of the police administration’s high-handedness in interfering in the inter-caste marriage of Satendra Ram and Neha Rauniar of Sarlahi district.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Durga Kumari Gurung said the people of remote Karnali province were deprived of basic health services and did not have access to water supply and electricity.

President of the Legislation Management Committee of the National Assembly, Tulasa Kumari Dahal, said the present government brought ordinances in keeping with its constitutional rights and almost all governments in the past had also done so. She argued that the government brought the ordinances to increase investment and bring good governance in the country.