Amendment Bill report tabled in National Assembly
KATHMANDU: The National Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution proposal aimed at enhancing citizens’ access to clean drinking water by providing facilities to water and sanitation institutions and promoting domestic production of bleaching powder.
The proposal, jointly supported by lawmakers Jag Prasad Sharma, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami, Bhagwati Nyaupane, Madan Kumari Shah, and Mohammad Khalid, calls for government action on key reforms in Nepal’s water sector.
Presenting the motion, MP Jag Prasad Sharma emphasized that drinking water services are a fundamental, non-profit utility and should not be subjected to tax burdens like VAT, income tax, or loan interest.
He urged that community-based consumer committees and related institutions be exempted from all such financial obligations.
The Assembly directed the government to implement the resolution and prioritize the commitments expressed by Minister for Drinking Water, Pradeep Yadav, including establishing a domestic bleaching powder plant. Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal also instructed the relevant thematic committee to monitor implementation.
The proposal, registered on May 19 (Jestha 6), also includes provisions to:
Exempt consumer committees from all forms of taxes.
Reduce interest rates on loans from the Town Development Fund.
Align public participation mechanisms with the National Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy 2080.
Waive electricity demand charges for water services.
No amendments were proposed during the debate. Several lawmakers—including Dr. Anjan Shakya, Bhuvan Bahadur Sunar, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Ghanshyam Rizal, Maya Prasad Sharma, Sumitra B.C., Rajendra Laxmi Gaire, and Krishna Prasad Adhikari—voiced strong support for the motion.
Additionally, the House was presented with committee reports on the Some Nepal Acts (Amendment) Bill, 2080 and budget-related messages from the House of Representatives concerning the Appropriation Bill, 2082.
