Upper House session: lawmakers draw government attention to contemporary issues

Kathmandu / Jan 16: Speaking in a zero hour of the National Assembly (NA) session today, the Upper House members drew the attention of the government to several contemporary issues.

Dhana Khatiwada demanded the government implement the agreements reached with Dr Govinda KC who has been on his 16th fast-onto-death seeking reforms in medical education sector. She also took a time to urge the government to take immediate measures against illegal extraction of river natural products such as stone and sand.

Nainkala Ojha demanded the exploration and extraction of minerals while Mukta Kumari Yadav sought the management of resource persons at the School Resource Centre.

Badri Prasad Pandey and Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi were also among those lawmakers drawing the government attention to contemporary issues.

Similarly, airing their view in the special hour, Surendra Raj Pandey accused the government of intending to disown the responsibility of the health institutions based in rural areas established in commemorations of NC prominent leaders Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala.

As he said, the federal government took the responsibility of other nine hospitals, pushing the two on the verge of collapse.

Though Nepal Communist Party’s chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal was expected to pronounce the name of the late Girija Prasad Koirala as in important personality contributing significantly in materializing the peace process, the expectation remained unmet.

Ram Lakhan Chamar apprised the session that despite smooth relations between sugarcane farmers and sugar mills, sugar price could not be adjusted. He was of the view that the price of sugar should be different on the basis of its use and a high-level farmers’ commission should be formed to determine the price of sugarcane and sugar and ending the privatization of Nawalparasi-based Lumbini Sugar Factory.

Bimala Rai pressed the government to take appropriate measures on time to respond consequences of natural disasters like earthquake, flood and landslide and climate change efficiently. She sought the government action to implement the President’s commitments to the international climate change conference. She was of the view that the government should adopt a policy of encouraging electric motor vehicles.

Lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari asserted that protesting Dr Govinda KC’s demands should not be linked with any specific political party and commented that no government had been able to address the KC’s demands. He questioned that what had refrained Prime Minster KP Sharma Oli to implement the past agreements between Dr KC and the government.

Comparing Dr KC’s hunger strike as Satyagraha, a non-violent movement, he viewed that no one could ignore the issue and demanded the government’s view on the same.

Rajkumar Kunwar lamented that those losing their lives during various movements to herald a positive change were not declared martyrs and those injured were not receiving any aid from the government for their treatment.

He demanded that a Commission to be formed to conduct a study on those injured and killed in various political movements and provide them a skill-oriented training.

Ramnarayan Bidari drew the attention of the government towards the adverse effect on human health due to the air pollution and urged to regulate the wanton construction of the buildings in the urban areas.

He demanded a modern butchery be built in Kathmandu and regulate the trade of meat of the ailing animals.

Bidari criticized that the issues were recurring due to the inability of the line Ministers to enforce the laws and rules formulated to streamline these areas.

Furthermore, he asked for clarification from the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development and Minister for Finance within a week on the same. RSS