Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, has stressed the need of preparing and implementing a master plan for an overall development of the nation including the development of physical infrastructure, road, housing, irrigation, drinking water and hydropower sectors.

“We lack a master plan in the development efforts. Our development endeavours are segregated. Ministries implement the development projects on their own. As a result, sometimes we have to face duplication in development projects, problem of the budget centralization and so on. That’s why a master plan is required to undertake efforts effectively for the holistic development of the nation.” She insisted on the need of a broader political consensus to establish the culture of master plan-based development.

The Minister was speaking at a programme organised to inaugurate a newly constructed building for the Water Resources Laboratory and Training Centre in Godavari of Lalitpur today. The seven-storey facility that functions as the subordinate of the Water Resources Research and Training Centre spreads in 12 ana of land (one ana is equivalent to 342.25 square feet) and it costs Rs 140 million to build it.
According to the Minister, the facility will be used for training and research works in the relevant field. She also expressed her hope that it would have its support to prepare plans in line with Nepal’s distinct territorial features. “Nepal is at high risk of climate change consequences.”

Ministry’s Energy Secretary Sushil Chandra Tiwari said the building is meant for development and research in hydropower sector while Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Sagar Kumar Rai spoke the need of increasing jurisdiction of the laboratory and developing it as a facility of specialized nature Centre’s executive director Sarita Dawadi promised to gradually develop the facility as the national laboratory for water resources sector.