The National Planning Commission (NPC) has faced a volley of questions on its relevance after the progress of the national pride projects was slow off the mark.

During the 43rd meeting of the National Development Problems Solution Committee, the prime minister and ministers questioned the NPC’s role and relevance after noting the miserable progress of the development projects in the country.

“What is the meaning of NPC which has failed to suggest plan, make amendments, point out weaknesses, and suggest a solution to the problems,” PM KP Sharma Oli said in the meeting.

Venting his anger at slow progress, the PM said it would need a major reform at the NPC, which has been contributing to country’s policy making and budgeting for six decades.

Similarly citing NPC reports, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav said there has been only 50 percent progress in the national pride projects in the last 30 years. There has been 25 percent progress in the construction of the Postal Highway, he noted. “The situation begs a question: what is the relevance of having a planning commission? I can debate for hours on it, we are back tracking,” Yadav said, adding prosperity is not possible unless we make substantive progress in health and education sectors.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav said the slogan, ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ could not be feasible from the present ‘wrong’ project selection process.

The NPC team led by its Vice-chairman Pushpa Raj Kandel, is drawing up the 15th National Plan and reviewing the 14th five-year plan.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanubhakta Dhakal said he was surprised by the NPC report that there was no problem in the government ministries, despite public complaints of lack of good governance in the country linking with corruption and bureaucratic red tape.

Education and Technology Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel stressed the need of clear work plan for proper mobilisation of resources.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali called for constructive intervention and a project bank to resolve lack of inter-ministry coordination for taking forward the infrastructure development projects.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management Raghuveer Mahaseth warned that his ministry would start carrying out works on its own way if the NPC did not respond on time to its requests to address the problems over project implementation.

Labour and Employment Minister Gokarna Bista underlined the need to identify the problems and address them for the timely implementation of the development projects. He also called for a proper inter-ministry level coordination in the design and implementation of development projects.