HETAUDA: Former Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya has stated that positive actions taken by the government should not be politicized.

Addressing the 26th annual general meeting and 12th convention of the Contractors Association of Makwanpur in Hetauda on Saturday, Baniya emphasized that there should be a broad mindset to appreciate good policies and decisions regardless of which government implements them.

Baniya described the federal government’s introduction of the average bidding system and the rescheduling of construction projects as positive steps. He argued that evaluating all government actions through a purely political lens prevents the fair assessment of constructive work.

He expressed confidence that these policy measures would help create a more conducive environment for contractors to advance their projects. However, he noted that the government must pay attention to the difficulties some contractors are facing while implementing the new systems. He added that the primary goal should be to create an environment where citizens can live happily and work honestly.

Bagmati Province Assembly member Eklal Sharma stated that the construction sector is currently facing serious challenges, and both the state and the contractors must act responsibly to resolve them. He emphasized that since a large portion of capital expenditure at the federal, provincial, and local levels is executed through contractors, any weakness in the construction sector directly impacts national development and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Federation of Contractors Associations of Nepal Vice President Balkrishna Thapa urged for an end to the situation where officials are afraid to implement new provisions of the Public Procurement Act and Regulations. He urged officials to confidently implement legal provisions designed for the benefit of contractors.

Thapa also mentioned that the federation has been consistently raising concerns regarding the Public Procurement Monitoring Office and the e-GP system, noting that they have held multiple discussions with relevant authorities regarding security and procedural issues within the electronic procurement system. The convention will also elect new leadership for the association.