By Ek Raj Giri
Pokhara, June 24: The Pokhara Metropolitan City has presented its policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2021/22. Pokhara Mayor Man Bahadur GC presented it to the ninth municipal assembly on Wednesday.
According to the metropolis, the tabled policy document focuses on infrastructure, tourism and agriculture. It also seeks to continue with the old development projects. With regard to COVID-19 control, the city will focus on the management of quarantines and isolations, recruitment of manpower, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing and contact tracing. It will also provide risk allowance to frontline health workers, the document states.
The policies and programmes have also arranged for tax exemptions and relief packages for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have talked about introducing schemes targeting those returning from foreign employment.
Mayor GC also informed the assembly that, if passed, the policies and programmes would pave the way to study the feasibility of constructing two expressways from the Pokhara International Airport to Begnas Lake and Baidam Lakeside.
The policy document also seeks to continue the partnership with Nepal Electricity Authority in implementing the ‘Bright Pokhara’ campaign in the coming fiscal year. It also mentions constructing the Taalchowk-Begnas Road with support from the World Bank.
It also states that projects worth Rs. 5 million or more will be properly maintained to ensure sustainability and the involvement of consumer committees will be encouraged in projects costing up to Rs. 2.5 million based on people’s labour, skills and technology.
To support domestic tourism, elected representatives in Pokhara will be provided five days of tourism leave in the coming year. Pokhara will also be marketed as an international tourist destination.
GC also shared that the metropolis would implement the local curriculum from this academic session.
Since the boundaries of the eight lakes of Pokhara have been fixed, work on their development and conservation will advance.