The contractors have accused the government of being impractical even though they had already pointed out the hurdles to accomplishing the construction work sooner. The PMO had initially set the target for finishing 90 percent of the construction work by the end of fiscal year 2012/13.
Organizing a press conference on Sunday, the contractors outlined 13 reasons why they cannot complete the works by August end. [break]
The government agencies like Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) were also directed to complete their work of laying pipes, replacing poles and managing cables on the road sections that are being widened.
According to Sharad Kumar Gauchan, general secretary of the Builders´ Association, lack of coordination between government agencies responsible to carry out tasks that must be completed before construction of roads has been causing the delay. He added that the NEA, Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Nepal Telecom offices do not respond despite their repeated calls to replace the electricity poles and cables.
Likewise, the contractors said that Lalitpur and Dhading-based crusher industries, which were closed following the direction by the Department of Mines and Geology, have not started their operation though the District Development Committees of both the district have already sent a notice allowing them to reopen. The delay in the reopening of the crushers has created a shortage of stones and sand required for construction work.
Gauchan claimed that neither PMO nor the Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project (KVRIP) have taken initiates to solve their problem.
The protest of Valley-based union of construction material suppliers since July 26 has also sparked a shortage of cement and rod, the contractors said.
Setting the August end deadline, the PMO had stated that the KVRIP, which is under the Department of Road, will complete certain works on Maitighar-Tinkune, Lainchaur-Maharajgunj-Galfutar, Kalimati-Balkhu-Tribhuvan University (TU) gate, Maitighar-Bhadrakali and Gaushala-Baneshwor-Shankhamul road stretches by August end.
As per the PMO´s direction, the one kilometer stretch of Maitighar-Tinkune road would be graveled and a 1.5 km pavement would be built along the newly-widened road. Similarly, one km stretch of Lainchaur-Galfutar road would be graveled and a two km pavement would be developed along this way. Graveling of a 600 meter stretch of Kalimati-TU gate road will be completed along with the construction of a 700 meters pavement. Graveling of 400 meter stretch would be done on Maitighar-Bhadrakali road while Gaushala-Sankhamul would have a 500 meter stretch graveled by August end.
Meanwhile, the contractors have also blamed monsoon for the delay in their work. Heavy rainfall during the pre-monsoon period, halted gravelling and black topping work for several day, said General Secretary Serchan.
“We don´t want to take the accusation of using substandard construction materials after roads get damaged during rainfall,” he mentioned.
Labor crunch is another problem, the contractors are currently facing as most of the seasonal labor go to villages for planting paddy during monsoon. Similarly, the government did not make available the construction sites even though the contracts were finalized.
The KVRIP also saddled them with additional responsibilities by modifying the designs of the to-be-constructed roads but failing to issue variation letter in time, he added.
“The concept of disabled-friendly road was included later in the design of for Tinkune-Maitighar road section,” he claimed. The lack of coordination between the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Authority (KVTDA) and KVRIP also held up the construction work at many road sections. Though the KVRIP had already signed a contract for reconstruction of the road, the KVTDA had given additional time to house owners to demolish their property. “We have waited for three months at times to get the construction site cleared,” he added.
The entrepreneurs have demanded the government to hold a discussion among all the stakeholders and seek a commitment from all to complete their task on time without blaming any one group.
Meanwhile, PMO Secretary Banskota said that the contractors have already been granted much time to finish the work and now it was about their sincerity toward their work and their sense of responsibility. "They should complete their work on time. If they do not, there would be consequences," Banskota said.
“The government is always ready to help them in any matter. In this one month time, they have to submit a progressive report or they will be punished,” he added.
Earlier on July 26 meeting the Kathmandu Division Road Office of the DoR had expressed its commitment to complete certain works on Mandev Marga (0.750 km blacktopping), Sifal-Kalopul-Naksal (1.840 km graveling), Tahachal-Chhauni (0.800 km expansion) and Narayanchaur-Nanigunj (0.800 km blacktopping) by August end. The builders had not participated in the meeting.
In the meeting at the PMO last week, the Lalitpur Division Road Office of the DoR had also claimed to complete certain works on Kandeutasthan-Kupondol-Sanepa-Gyanodaya road (400 meter blacktopping), Jawalakhel-Ekantakuna road (800 meter graveling), Jawalakhel-Lagankhel (200 meter graveling), Satdobato-Karmanasha road (600 meter graveling), Bakhundol road (200 meter graveling), Patandhoka-Chakupat-UN Park (400 meter graveling), Pulchowk-St Mary´s Thadodhunga road (300 meter graveling), Bhanimandal-Dhobighat-Jhamsikhel (300 meter gravelling), Bishnu Mandir-Nakkhu Khola (200 meter graveling) and Chakrapath (500 meter footpath building) by August 31.
The Bhaktapur Division Road Office of the DoR had also expressed commitment that it would complete one km base work of Sallaghari-Byas road, 200 meter graveling on Kaushaltar-Balkot and 400 graveling on Jagdumba Tower Nikosera road within the deadline.
Related story
Residents demand stringent laws against contractors
