Although development works could not progress significantly this fiscal year as well, there have been improvements in the areas of hydroelectricity, roads, communications and education. Finance Minister Surendra Pandey on Sunday unveiled this year's Economic Survey, which presents progress in the following areas.

Private sector hydroelectricity
The Lamjung Madhya Marshyangdi hydroelectricity project (70 MW) was completed this year while work started on the Chamelia hydroelectricity project in Darchula (30 MW), the Kulekhani III hydroelectricity project in Makwanpur (14 MW), and the Upper Trishuli A hydroelectricity project in Nuwakot/Rasuwa (60 MW).
Projects with private investment such as Pati khola (0.996 MW) and Seti II (0.979 MW) were completed this year. In addition four other projects will be completed within the year with a total capacity of approximately 6 MW.

Transportation
Construction of a 16 km road connecting Kathmandu to Nijgad has been completed and an additional 60 km will also be opened. By the end of the year, 210 km will be surfaced and 110 km of new roads will be constructed. Work will have commenced on an additional 60 km.

Telecommunications
Out of 3,915 VDCs telecommunication services are now available in 3,624 VDCs. Over 1.3 million new telephone lines of different technologies have been distributed.

Community schools
Under the provision to handover school management to communities, this year 6,644 primary schools, 2,136 lower secondary level schools and 1,030 higher secondary schools will be handed over by the end of this fiscal year. This year 24,773 day care centres were opened.

Morality rate
In line with the Millennium Development Goals, the child mortality rate has decreased to 14 per 1000 live births from 43 in 1996. Similarly the maternal mortality rate has decreased to 289 per 100,000 from 539 in 1990.

Toilets
1.1 million toilets are being built across the country under the one family one toilet scheme.