Economic agendas of political parties unrealistic: Experts

Experts have said the economic targets set by political parties in their election manifestos are unrealistic and hence cannot be achieved. They also lambasted the parties for not including clear economic agendas on federal set up. The targets set by the political parties on economic growth and employment and hydropower generation are more or less similar. “But all the commitments are unachievable. The parties haven´t said how they intend to achieve the targets,” economist Bishwambher Pyakuryal said. Keshav Acharya, another economist, said political parties competed with each other to make tall promises. “But they haven´t clarified how they intend to fulfill those promises,” Acharya said. Pyakuryal said the parties set the targets without studying why development goals set in the past couldn´t be achieved. “The government had targeted to harness 118 MW of hydropower in the second three-year interim plan that ended in July. But only 21 MW could be generated,” added Pyakuryal. He suggested to the leaders of political parties why the targets were not achieved. In their election manifestos, UCPN (Maoist) and Nepali Congress have promised to end load-shedding in three years. But experts say load-shedding can´t be completely eliminated even if the much-touted Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW) starts generation within the targeted timeframe. Officials of Ministry of Energy say energy deficit in wet months would be around 450 MW by the end of next three years. Power shortage during dry months would be even higher. “The political parties are also silent on how they intend to mobilize resources to resolve chronic labor problems and formulate necessary laws to encourage investment from the private sector,” said Acharya. Political parties have set ambitious agendas like achieving double-digit economic growth, graduating to the status of developed country within four decades, generating 300,000 new jobs every year and providing minimum 100 days employment to youths. Commenting on those commitments, Pyakuryal said it would be meaningless to run after figures instead of focusing on sustainable development. “Our per capita income increased by only US$ 62 over the past four decades. But parties have said they would double per capita income within a decade,” said Pyakuryal. “Instead of making tall promises, the parties should have included realistic plans that can be achieved.” Past experiences show parties´ commitments won´t materialize as frequent changes in government mean parties won´t be able to implement their programs. Pyakuryal suggests political parties to agree on a common minimum economic agendas and targets for coherent development so that the development activities and programs won´t change despite change in government. Acharya said political parties have not clarified what economic benefits that the country will achieve by adopting the forms of governance proposed by them.