August 14: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has made it clear that the contracts of projects failing to report the progress will be terminated.

During a discussion with the protesting contractors at his office on Monday, the finance minister said that the government would clear the dues of the contractors, but it would not hesitate to cancel the contracts of the stalled projects. 

 In case of those projects for which the termination of the contracts is not a feasible option, he urged for the management of budget and the acceleration of the projects. 

The Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) has been agitating since July 30, alleging the government's procrastination to release the payments. -- RSS