Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising said that the development of the country is not possible without construction entrepreneurs. However, he said that there is a need to enhance the capacity of Nepal's construction entrepreneurs.

He said this at a dialogue program with stakeholders on ‘sick contract management’ organized by the Nepal Infrastructure Journalists Society in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

‘Big work is not possible without construction entrepreneurs. The development of the country is not possible without construction entrepreneurs. Be it national or international,’ he said, ‘However, it is necessary to enhance the capacity of construction entrepreneurs. Nepali construction entrepreneurs should have the ability to do international-level work.’

He said that Nepal should have a construction entrepreneur conference rather than an investment conference. He said that this would enhance the capacity of construction entrepreneurs.

He said that in some contracts, it is necessary to find a contractor. ‘They said to manage a sick contract, but no contractor is found. The contract has been in a sick state for 10-15 years,’ he said.

He said that the contract became sick even when decisions were not made on time. ‘The contract has become sick even when decisions were not made. You have to be able to make the right decision at the right time. However, the contract has become sick even when the project heads do not make decisions on time, he said. Therefore, you have to be able to make decisions at the right time. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has also said that action should be taken against employees who do not make decisions.

He said that the construction plan for construction in Nepal is also weak. ‘The tunnel break-through was done in the Bheri Babai Diversion Irrigation Project in 2075 BS. However, the contract for building structures including the power house had not been signed by then,’ he said. ‘The said project has not been built yet. This situation has arisen due to the lack of a plan for when and what work will be done.’

Similarly, he said that there are various obstacles to working in Nepal. ‘A Chinese construction entrepreneur completes the work in 6 months. However, the same construction entrepreneur cannot work in Nepal for 6 years,' he said, 'There is also a problem in Nepal due to the lack of good cooperation between construction entrepreneurs, consultants and projects.'

Similarly, he said that the government is positive to remove the system of collecting the remaining work from the contractor when the contract is broken. Similarly, he said that the government will support the construction entrepreneurs who work. 'You (construction entrepreneurs) should work. The government is with you,' he said.

He said that the contract was also sick because of the employees. Stating that no action has been taken on such contracts, Minister Ghising said that an investigation will be conducted. 'There are many contracts that are sick on the part of the project. Action should be taken against such contracts too,' he said, 'All the contracts that have been broken and are being broken now are sick because of the construction entrepreneurs.' No action has been taken against the contracts where employees have become ill. An investigation should be conducted and action should be taken against the employees concerned.'