BIRENDRANAGAR, May 24: Local residents have alleged irregularities in the upgrading of the Rotikhola-Majhgaun Road in Narayan Municipality-2, Dailekh, under the Local Infrastructure Development Project Office, Surkhet. They claim the work does not match the construction plan, suspecting an embezzlement and misappropriation of Rs 3 million.

Locals assert that the road, planned for Reinforcement Cement Concrete (RCC) construction, has instead been upgraded using Plain Cement Concrete (PCC). Dhurba Bikram Thapa, a local resident, reported that only 25 meters of the road have been upgraded with RCC, while 100 meters have been done with PCC, contrary to the construction report.

Even though RCC is mentioned in the construction report, the site has been constructed using the PCC technique with the consent of the technician. Thapa said that the work does not align with the construction report used for inviting bids, and the thickness of the concrete is also less than specified. Iron rods, which are used in RCC, are not used in PCC.

Thapa pointed out that the use of PCC instead of RCC, which involves iron rods, suggests cost-cutting measures approved by the technicians. 

This discrepancy benefits the engineers financially, as iron rods are not used in PCC. Additionally, there is no notice board at the construction site.

A total of 14 road projects have been contracted in Dailekh. Despite the allegations, the project office maintains that the work has been carried out according to the approved plan.