MYAGDI, June 28: As a protest against the sheer recklessness of road maintenance by the government authorities concerned, locals in Nayabazar of Mangala Rural Municipality-2 in the district have planted rice on a muddy road. 

The road section from Ranawang to Dukhukhola has turned muddy due to incessant rainfall in the past few weeks. A Nayabazar resident, Shreeram Poudel said they planted rice on the muddy road to draw attention of all stakeholders concerned and exert pressure on the construction company to complete the work on time.

"The road is muddy and has ditches. This has posed a serious risk of accidents," he said, adding, "They were forced to launch the symbolic protest with rice plantation." More than 20 people participated in the rice plantation.

The company contracted for blacktopping of the road, Biruwa-Caravan JZ, has been out of contact for three months. 

The Himalayan Builder was picked as a subcontractor to repair and blacktop the road. As the main contractor failed to pay, even the sub-contractor stopped the work halfway.

Officiating Chief of Infrastructure Development Office in Myagdi, Guru Datt Adhikari, said they have not been able to establish contact with the main contractors despite repeated efforts. "The line ministry has been asked in writing to confiscate the security amount of Biruwa-Caravan for its failure to complete the work on time," he added.

The contract for the undertaking was reached on Jestha 31, 2076 at Rs 270 million. Although the work was supposed to be completed in two year's time, there has been only 55 percent progress in the work so far.

 
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