GORKHA, July 15: The asphalt of the recently-blacktopped roads in the remote areas of Gorkha district has come off due to the heavy rainfall for the past few days. The blacktopping of the Luitel-Aappipal-Harmi-Bhachek road has come off even though the construction was completed this year. Other roads in the area that were constructed in the past three months have also developed cracks.
The locals are angry over "the construction of substandard road" in Bahakot, Swara, Saupani of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality. The road was constructed with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank and technical support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Country roads
One of the locals, Rajkumar Gurung, expressed dissatisfaction over the sheer negligence in road construction. The locals have also formed a struggle committee under Gurung's coordination in order to report the issue. Gurung stated that they are compelled to stage protests against the use of substandard materials and constant delays in blacktopping the road. January 2019 was the deadline for completing the blacktopping of the road. However, only 70 percent work has been completed so far. Of the total budget of Rs 180 million allocated for blacktopping the road, the contractor has already received 50 percent of the amount.
“There is no presence of the contractor's representative in the field. The workers carry out the works on their own,” said ward chairperson of Sulikot Rural Municipality-6, Babu Lal Gurung. He further lamented over the absence of the technician, lack of access to authorities, hasty and delayed works hindering the completion of the project. With such issues rampant in the area, the locals have demanded that the authorities concerned make strong and long-term plans and policies for road construction and blacktopping.
Along with the Luitel-Bhachek stretch, the asphalt of Siranchowk-4, Chiuri has come off. Chief of National Reconstruction Authority Grant Management and Local Infrastructure, Ram Sharan Acharya said that he had directed the construction company to renovate the road. The construction of 18.5 km road from Luitel is being carried out by Amar JV Construction while the rest of the 13 km from Naya Gau is being carried out by Lama Construction.
