DARCHULA, Sept 23: The construction of a suspension bridge at Lalima of Lekam rural municipality-3 in Darchula has been left neglected for the past three months.
The under-construction project to connect Nepal and India has stalled since last mid June. The construction work was halted citing a growing water revel in the river.
23 border pillars swept away by Saptakoshi yet to be restored
The Manomalika Construction Company was awarded the contract for project construction two years ago at a cost of Rs 13.2 million, but no significant progress has been noticed so far despite the extension of the term twice.
As promised in the latest agreement, the project needs to be completed by mid-December.
A call for the tender was made following the announcement of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to free the country of ropeways, known as tuin, in the two years when he assumed the prime ministerial post first time.
Now, Oli is in the post second time, but the problem is as it is.
The locals here have no alternative but to cross the river with the help of tubes risking their lives. Under the project, only pillars have been erected at one side.
Contractor Deepak Saud said the construction works could not take place in the initial year due to a lack of timely permission by the local government of India.
The construction work was hampered also by a delay in importing construction materials from India last year and now the water level in the river increased by monsoon rains is yet to recede.
Local Tara Bhandari said cross-border peoples' movements during festival times will obviously increase, but they are left with no option to boating on tubes to cross the river. RSS
