On the afternoon of February 2, 2075, there was a commotion in the lonely corner of Lalitpur. That pomp was for nothing else, it was for the inauguration of the Nepal Ship Office. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and then Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Raghuveer Mahaseth were present at the inauguration.

It took 6 years since its inauguration, but what did this office do? There is no simple answer to this either with the physical ministry or with the office itself. No one can show or tell that these have been achieved. The office has one small achievement - the detailed feasibility study for the operation of watercraft in 5 main rivers of Nepal has been completed. 

Since the law regarding watercraft operation has not been enacted, the office has not been able to regulate motorboats and steamers operating in Narayani and Koshi rivers. Vessels are operated arbitrarily. But the office is operational only as an establishment. Out of the 13 posts in the office, 11 employees are working.

Senior Divisional Engineer (Camu Registrar), Mechanical Engineer, Accounts Officer, Naib Subba, Accountant and Computer Operator are working in it. The post of Branch Officer and Law Officer is vacant.

There are two light vehicle drivers and three office assistants. Former Secretary Arjunjung Thapa says that since there is no watercraft and the government has not prepared for its operation, there is no need for a separate office by keeping so many employees. 

'When there is a small number of separate units in the ministry, there is no need to set up first-level posts,' Thapa said He said that the expenses are only increasing. More than crores of rupees budget has been allocated annually for the office, which has not seen any achievements so far. 

'The employee had to adopt, the office is sitting in a rented house. There is no need for electricity, water and fuel to run vehicles," Thapa said. "What has been achieved by the Watercraft Office during this time?" Bringing goods from the canals of Nepal to trade by boat is just gossip.'  He suggested that after the

law comes into force, the boats running uninterruptedly in Narayani and Koshi should be regulated and managed. An office has been established to operate, study and regulate watercraft. The government, which is in a hurry to open offices, has not yet been able to bring in laws related to the operation of ships.

The bill to amend and unify the laws related to the operation and management of watercraft has been registered in the National Assembly's Bills Branch on December 1. After that, no further process has taken place in this regard. The Bill contains provisions related to determination of waterway route, permission and use.

Vessel office arrangement, service operation, vessel registration, ownership, granting certificate of nationality to vessels, using the flag of Nepal and other topics are covered.

Former secretary Tulsi Sitaula said that there is no need to build an office without work. He said that it would be appropriate to keep an office and work only after the implementation of the law. He said that even though it is possible to operate the watercraft at the low level that is in contact with India, it is not possible in the mountainous terrain. 

Rajan Pradhan, Information Officer and Mechanical Engineer of Nepal Watercraft Office, said that there is a problem in working because the law is not made. "Now there are enough employees, nothing will be gained by just piling up employees," he said.

"After the law is made and implemented, regulations could be made to regulate motorboats, steamers, etc. that are currently in operation," Pradhan said. According to the project office, the allocated budget is spent on the study of rivers and the operation of the office.