Government officials risking their lives under cracked building

Published On: December 11, 2018 02:30 AM NPT By: DB BUDHA

The dilapidated building of the District Drinking Water and Sanitation Subdivision Office, Jumla.

JUMLA, Dec 11: The staff of the District Drinking Water and Sanitation Subdivision Office (DDWSSO) in Jumla are forced to work in a dilapidated building, which has developed cracks everywhere. The civil servants say they fear for their lives but have not other options than to risk their lives.

The government employees cannot even opt to stay out of the building and carry out their work as the temperature is becoming freezing cold in the mountainous district.

Lokendra Prasad Yadav, chief of the office, stated that they can neither stay out nor remain safe inside. "We have not been able to work properly because of the fear of being crushed by the building," said Yadav, adding, "When service seekers come for any work, we take them out in the ground as we can't risk their lives."

The six-room building, which was constructed 20 years ago, is currently in a sorry state. It can collapse anytime. The building recurrently develops serious cracks, which are temporarily repaired every time. However, that does not last for long. Chief Yadav informed Republica that the responsible authorities have been urged to repair the building as soon as possible so that they can work peacefully.

This office provides service to the locals of Jumla, Mugu and Humla. Currently, 21 staffers are working in the office. "It is not always possible to work in the open. We want to work in our own rooms," said Chief Yadav.

Yuvraj Neupane, a non-gazetted officer at the office, laments that the condition of the building is miserable and so is theirs. "We think of big plans for this field when we leave home for office. But they all disappear once we enter the building," Neupane laments. The room where the very important documents are kept is the most unsafe room.

This office is being operated under the provincial government now. Though the office had requested for a budget of Rs 7 million for repairing the building, the province only approved Rs 3 million. According to the officials, this budget is not enough for proper repair of the building.