Kathmandu, 23 Nov – Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising has said that the state has been suffering heavy losses because construction contractors fail to carry out the projects they have taken on, and government employees do not make timely decisions while fulfilling their responsibilities.
During a program held by the Nepal Engineering Council in Lalitpur on Sunday, Minister Ghising said that project implementation is facing complications due to insufficient technical capacity in the infrastructure sector and untimely decision-making.
Ghising mentioned that when projects cannot be completed on time, the expected benefits—such as employment generation, increased productivity, and contribution to the Gross Domestic Product—cannot be realized.
Addressing the challenges in project execution, Ghising said, “Problems have arisen not only because many contractors fail to carry out the work, but also because decisions that need to be made from the project’s side are not taken on time. There is a tendency among some to avoid making decisions, or to be afraid even when a decision must be made. When engineers are weak, it affects contract agreements. Those involved in contract management and leadership must make prompt decisions in a legally sound manner.”
He noted that engineers are spending more time managing social and environmental aspects of development projects than focusing on their core technical fields.