Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) said on Saturday the engineers are unable to freely work in different parts of the nation, especially in Terai, due to security fears and called on all to create a secure environment to carry out their development works.

“Engineers are the most important parts of developmental work but our members are not able to visit sites in many districts across the country at present due to threats from various political parties and underground outfits,” said NEA general secretary Dhruba Thapa during at a press meet today in Kathmandu,

The NEA said the engineers and their families are living in a state of torture. “Even we don’t receive calls on mobiles unless we are sure that the caller is a known person,” added Thapa.

The professional body conceded that there had been some questionable acts by its members regarding quality of works, but asked not to generalise it.

It also called the government attention to the rising trend of brain drain as engineers top the list of those leaving the nation.

“Those still in the country are insecure and those who left are not in mood to return. So, the country is soon going to be in a crisis situation after a few years if certain preemptive measure is not taken” said NEA president Hari Om Shrivastav.

source: Himalayan Times (2010)," Engineers' body calls for secure working ambience" ,The Himalayan Times, 18 July 2010