Engineer Shree Jabegu said a track was opened to connect Chyangthapu of Pancthar and Chiwabhanjyang of Sikkim, India on May 12 but there has not been much progress after landslides at several places. [break]
"Construction has been severely affected for the past few days due to continuous rainfall. We had hoped to complete a motorable road to Sikkim from this winter but have not been able to work as per the schedule," Jabegu revealed.
There are dozens of landslides in the 200-km stretch from Myanglung of Taehrathum to Sikkim and vehicles could not be driven past Ganesh Chowk of Nagi VDC due to landslides. There is no question of continuing construction if material can´t be transported to the site," he added.
Land Rover and other four-wheel drive vehicles were being used for transportation of construction materials but even those vehicles have not been able to ply due to landslides. "We should have been working in Chyangthapu right now but have been forced to work in Bharpa only," he revealed.
The workers are currently constructing retention walls, cause ways, and expanding and leveling the road at the sections not hit by landslides and disputes.
"We are continuing construction in the eastern section where there is no lingering dispute about compensation. We have agreed to compensate only those whose houses have been demolished in this area," he explained. He also praised the locals in the eastern part for cooperating in the construction.
The Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway will join Jhulaghat of Baitadi in Mahakali zone with Sikkim, India in the east. The locals of remote villages in Terhathum and Panchthar districts are upbeat about the 1,765-km highway. The government is planning to develop the highway as an alternative to the over-used Mahendra Highway.
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