BIRGUNJ, March 27: The Save Birgunj Struggle Committee closed the corporate outlets along the main road in the town half-day today, protesting the project to widen the roadway from the Gandak Chowk to Miteri Bridge.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had quashed a writ filed against the road-widening drive. With this decision, the Road Division of Hetauda circulated a letter asking for the road demarcation, resulting in local’s outrage. According to the Committee, the major market area was shut down till 12:00 noon.
Committee coordinator and Birgunj sub metropolis-9 ward Chair Jawahar Prasad Gupta said the Division ordered for the demarcation of the road while the full text of the court verdict was awaited. As he explained, the move aimed to ruin the trade hub of historic Birgunj. House owners here and traders have been united against it. Over 1,100 house owners are to be rendered homeless if the project is set into motion, it is said.
People affected by road-widening drive stage demonstration at M...
"Any development initiative that undermines the life of local people is not acceptable for us," he said. Sanjib Sharma, whose house is close to the Mahabir Temple in Birgunj, said his five-member family would be left to live under open sky if the project is implemented.
Division's Chief Guru Prasad Adhikari confirmed the circulation of the letter seeing the roadway boundary with 25 meters each.
Five writs against the project to extend the roadway were nullified by the Supreme Court on February 20. A division bench of justice Binod Sharma and Mahesh Sharma took the decision, paving the way for the Division to proceed with the implementation of the project.
RSS