August 14: The government has formed a taskforce to address the problems faced by the construction entrepreneurs.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) confirmed that a six-member taskforce has been formed under the coordination of Public Procurement Monitoring Office Secretary Dr Damodar Regmi with join-secretaries of line ministries as members in order to resolve the problems. The taskforce comprises representatives from the ministry of finance, physical infrastructure and, urban development among others.    

The committee is mandated to submit a report within 15 days after conducting necessary consultations and coordination with all stakeholders, said Narayan Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the OPMCM.    

The contractors have been voicing their concerns over the issue of non-payment of their completed works by the government. This has resulted in other problems amid rising inflation, say the agitating contractors.

OPMCM Spokesperson Bhatta said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the Ministry of Finance and other line ministries to promptly address the demands, including payment of completed works of the contractors. He added that Prime Minister Dahal was serious about addressing several demands of the contractors.