Kathmandu : In a session of the National Assembly (NA) today, annual reports (fiscal year 2018-19) of five constitutional bodies were presented.
Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, on behalf of the Prime Minister, presented the 60th annual report of the Public Service Commission and the reports of the National Inclusion Commission, Tharu Commission, Madhesi Commission and the Muslim Commission.
Similarly, Thagendra Prakash Puri, on behalf of Legislation Management Committee president Meghi Gurung, presented the committee report about the ‘ Revenue Leakage (Investigation and Control-first amendment) Bill-2075 BS’.
Earlier, the NA session on December 30 had decided to send the Bill to the Legislation Management Committee for clause-wise discussions. Fourteen lawmakers registered 29 amendment proposals in regard with 14 clauses. But it was endorsed without any amendment by the Committee.
Similarly, the meeting passed a proposal tabled by the Finance Minister seeking consideration on the ‘Nepal Special Service Bill-2076 BS’. It was endorsed by a majority of votes.
Taking part in the discussions over the proposal, Radheshyam Adhikari of Nepali Congress warned that the bill could squeeze the citizens’ fundamental rights, urging the government to have a trust on the people.
Another NC lawmaker Anita Devkota dismissed the need of bill at this hour, urging the government to withdraw it.
Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s Ram Narayan Bidari said there should be no objection from anywhere in enacting law to punish those involved in crimes.
Lawmaker Bimala Rai Poudel described the introduction of Bill welcoming as it was for revising the law dating back to 2042 BS.
In his attempt to convince the dissenting voices, the Finance Minister urged them not to have any doubt over the Bill brought by the government formed through the people’s elected parliament and any law to be practiced by the government would be democratic. The provisions in the Bill would be implemented through a democratic procedure, he assured.
Lawmakers express worry over low capital expenditure
Meanwhile, lawmakers speaking in the ‘special hour’ in the meeting of the National Assembly before this, complained that development works have been hampered at local level and in the provinces due to the shortage of employees. They drew the attention of the government to assign the required employees at the earliest.
Bhairab Sundar Shrestha from Nepal Communist Party (NCP) said although the budget and development programmes have been earmarked to the districts, these programmes are in limbo due to shortage of technical and administrative employees.
“Only one percent of the development budget has been spent so far in Karnali due to the shortage of employees. And towards the federal government also, there is only 2.5 percent capital expenditure,” he said.
Lawmakers speaking in the special hour included Yutol Tamang, Nanda Chapai, Udaya Sharma, Komal Oli of NCP, and Prakash Pantha and Taradevi Bhatta of the Nepali Congress.
The NA shall meet again at 1:00 on January 2.
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