Contractors continue making sub-standard road in Rautahat: Locals

Published On: May 22, 2018 05:30 AM NPT By: Madan Thakur


RAUTAHAT, May 22: The monopoly of contractors over the construction of roads and sewers has added further problems to the already struggling locals of Rautahat. Massive irregularities and negligence have been revealed in the road projects of Gaur, the district headquarters of Rautahat, which are been constructed under Urban Development and Building Construction Department Office (UDBCDO).

Two months ago, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had jointly laid the foundation of a road project and sewer but the contractors have breached various standards while constructing certain sections of the road. Construction companies like Swachanda, Dhukuchu, Ashraya JV Basundhar were awarded with the tender of Rs 1.35 billion for the construction of the road and sewer in Rajdevi Municipality and Yamunmai Rural Municipality.

Despite protests from the locals regarding the low quality works, the authorities have not taken any initiative to inspect the faulty construction. With the objective of creating clean, green and well managed cities, the government sanctioned huge budget for the road project but that unfortunately has not been utilized in a proper way.

In Bramhapuri of Rajdevi Municipality, contractors have dug up five feet deep holes in both sides of the road which have posed threats to the humans.

Locals have accused that this road will be linked to the no man's land, which will make it easier for smugglers and criminals to carry out illegal trade. Dilip Singh of Bramhapuri accused that the contractors have been extending the road to fulfill their vested interest rather than providing service to the people. Big potholes in both sides of the road often remind them the incident of Garuda where four girls lost their lives after falling into the potholes.

Locals have complained that the large holes dug in both sides of the road have increased the risk of accidents and also damaged their crops. Following this, Suresh Wagle, chief of UDBCDO, Jagannath Keshari, chairperson of Civil Society along with various other officials made a field visit of the under-construction roads.

Shambhu Sah, a popular social worker and youth leader of Nepal Communist Party (NCP), laments that despite urging the responsible authorities to take care of the quality of construction, the contractors have been neglecting the request. Sah stressed that the farmers should be provided with compensation if their crops are damaged due to the construction.

An inspection team led by Chief District Officer Govinda Rijal found out that the level of road is uneven and the sewer needs to be broken and constructed again at some places.

Meanwhile, chief of UDBCDO Wagle informed that the construction companies have been told to level the potholes by using mud. He also stated that the unnecessary obstruction of civil society has further delayed the project.


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