KHOTANG, Feb 11: In a glaring example of unaccountability, a construction firm owned by a businessman-turned-lawmaker has delayed the construction of a bridge over Dudh Koshi at Harkapur of Okhaldhunga district by more than four years with no questions asked by the authorities.
The construction of the 150 meters long bridge, which was assigned to Kalika Constructions, a firm owned by Lawmaker Bikram Pandey, and another company, Hulas Engineering, was supposed to be completed by June 2011.
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The two firms were contracted to build the bridge at a cost of around Rs 100 million, according to Road Divisional Office at Harkapur, Okhaldunga. But the contractors have been citing internal conflicts as the reason for the repeated delays.
According to Sita Ram Adhikari, an engineer with Kalika Construction, 50 percent of the work has been completed so far.
Meanwhile, a local lawmaker, Pachkarna Rai, said that the bridge could be constructed in a short duration if the contractors work continuously.
"The construction was supposed to be over by now. Delay in construction has affected everyone," added Rai.
Since the chief of Kalika Constructions, Bikram Pandey, is a constituent assembly member from Chitwan, locals said no one has dared to speak up against the delay.
They argue that the firm has managed to evade official actions because it is owned by a politically connected businessman.
"The delay in building the bridge construction has been creating numerous difficulties such as transporting medicines and other essential supplies," said Rajendra Layalu, chairman of Khotang chapter of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).
Locals of Khotang district were very excited when then Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bimalendra Nidhi had expressed commitment in December 2014 to complete the construction of Dudh Koshi Bridge at Harkapur within six months. Many locals were hopeful that the construction work would gather pace after the commitment from the minister himself. However, apart from erecting two pillars at each end, there has been no visible progress.
