Delayed budget release affects quality of construction projects

RAJBIRAJ, July 13: Last minute release of development budget has impeded the construction of roads in Rajbiraj, Saptari. Budget for the construction of these roads was allocated under the Constituency Development Project (CDP). The delay has made life difficult for the locals.

Rajbiraj-Kunauli road, the only roadway that connects Rajbiraj with the southern area of the region, has been obstructed since last month as the contractor failed to construct culverts. Dineshwar Mishra, ex-chairman of Tilathi VDC said that the actual action started only a month back although the tender for it was passed almost a year ago. He accused the laid back working attitude of the road department and other concerned authorities as the main factor in the delayed construction.Similarly, delayed construction of irrigation slab in Lankeshwor river of Brahmapur VDC, which had collapsed during its construction, has kept the locals devoid of any irrigation facilities. Out of the total 8, 00,000 rupees, 6, 00, 000 were collected from the user groups. Punit Kumar Mandal, one of the members of the user group, said that their investment was swiped away by the floods as the construction had begun after monsoon started due to the delay done by the contractor.

The recent repair on the road connecting Devdhar VDC and Fulwadhiya VDC of the district, made with a total budget of 14, 00, 000 rupees, has been in dilapidated conditions. The road has already fallen apart and is now prone to road accidents.

Binod Yadav, a youth leader termed the working pattern of concerned authorities as disgrace to the month of Asadh. The month known for agricultural harvest is being defamed as the month of 11th hour for spending fiscal budget and carrying out development works, he said. "People are being deceived and ironically, the concerned authorities do not realize this. The trend is pervasive in all public organs, right from village development committees to district development committees. This hampers in executing plans and projects. This trend must be stopped now," Yadav said.

Concerned local development authorities reassured to execute development plans and projects on time in the days ahead after realizing how delayed project implementation has been impacting in the implementation of development activities.

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