kathmandu : It has been eight months since Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated Nepal Ship Office, but the legal and technical works regarding the project have not been made any progress. The office was inaugurated amidst a special programme in Ekantakuna, Lalitpur with a vision of operating Nepal’s own ships.
The main responsibility of the Ship Office is to formulate necessary policy and laws for the operation of ships, update old policies, identity the places to operate ships and to carry out other physical and technical works.
Earlier in August, the Ship Office had hired a private consultancy company to prepare a draft of Integrated Ship Act 2076 essential to operate Nepal’s own ships within 45 days but the company has not submitted the draft yet.
Section Officer at the Ship Office Ballav Bista said that the office had assigned Malla Legal Consultant to prepare the draft. “Malla Legal Consultant was selected under the Public Purchase Act,” he said. But the company has not completed its works within the given timeframe citing various personal reasons.
The Directive Committee under the Ship Office will give the final shape after studying the draft submitted by the company. Later, the office will send the draft to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation for approval. The Ministry should also hold consultations with the Ministry of Law regarding this issue. The draft bill will be registered at the Parliament following the Cabinet approval.
“All the process will be taken ahead after the consultancy submitted the draft to the office,” Bista said, adding,” Our plan is to start the work as soon as possible.” He further said, “The office is preparing to send the final report of the draft to the Ministry within one month.” He also said that plans are on the cards to form a team to find out potential waterways. Bista said that the team of experts will be formed next week.
Though the Ship Office did not carry out any works in the fiscal year 2018/2019, it had a plan to start the works from the beginning of fiscal year 2019/2020. Similarly, the government had allocated Rs 90 million to the Ship Office for the fiscal year 2019/2020.
During the inauguration of the Ship Office, PM Oli had said that the national flag carrier will start transporting the goods after some time.
It has been learnt that the Inland Waterways Authority of India had started building infrastructure to Haldipur of Ganga River for the direct operation of Nepali ships. Government officials have been claiming that the Nepal government has been making the plan centering Narayani River.
PM Oli has been saying that the ship will come to Nepal from Ganga River of India via Narayani River. However, none of the woks have been taken ahead except the establishment of Ship Office due to the failure to prepare the draft.
The Prime Minister had given top priority to operate Nepal’s own ships.
