The paddy plantation program was held to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the delay in road construction through mockery, according to Surya Pakhurel, a local.The construction work that began two years ago has been dragging on because of lax oversight from the government authorities.
Apart from planting paddy on the road, the locals also obstructed vehicular movements along the Old Baneshwar-Sinamangal stretch.
"The bad condition of the road has created problems not just for the locals but also pedestrians and vehicles. The contractor assigned to build this road has been acting in a negligent manner and the government authorities have turned a blind eye to the problem," said Pakhurel.
As the protestors were obstructing the road during peak hour, the police charged batons in an attempt to disperse them, said DSP Rakesh Sigh, chief of Metropolitan Police Circle Office, Gaushala. He informed that some protesters sustained injuries during the police intervention.
Finally, a dialogue was held between the locals and the contractor with the mediation of the police following which the contractor agreed to finish gravelling and blacktopping the road within a week.
"We will resume our agitation if the contractor fails to live up to his promise. Had it not been for their, the construction would have completed long ago," said Dinesh Prashad Adhikari, another local.
According to him, installation of pipelines for Melamchi Water Supply Project and sewerage system has already been completed.
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