TIKAPUR, June 1: The construction of the six-lane Khakraula road in Tikapur Municipality has adversely affected the locals and business persons in and around the area. The locals filed a complaint at the municipality after the dust began blowing in the area due to the soil dumped by the contractor on the road, affecting their health and businesses.

“We filed a complaint at the municipality to sprinkle water on the under-construction road in order to settle down the dust. Despite an agreement between the municipality and the construction company to sprinkle water on the under-construction road, nothing has been done for the past five days,” said a business person, Shiva Dutta Upreti. 

“If the construction company is not willing to follow the agreement, it is the responsibility of the municipality to make it do that,” added Upreti. 

The problem can be reduced greatly if the work is carried out in the night. If so, the commuters could be relieved from the daily dust,” said Tek Narayan Poudel, proprietor of Chandimai Medical, a medicine shop. When the wind blows, Tikapur bazaar gets covered in dust which affects the shops on the roadsides and school students. 

Mayor of Tikapur Municipality, Tapendra Bahadur Rawal said that the construction company has not honored the agreement reached with the municipality. He further stated that the construction company will be strictly reminded to honor the agreement. 

The locals have also questioned the quality of materials being used for the construction work in the area. According to them, the construction company has used sandy soil for the road construction. However, Federal Project Implementation Office, Kailali Site In-charge Trilok Joshi said action will be taken against the construction company if it happens to be using substandard materials for the road construction. “We are planning to test the soil and take further action against the company before continuing with the construction work,” said Joshi.

Technicians believe that the rollers should be used after half a foot layer of soil is laid. However, the company has used the roller after laying a two-feet thick layer of soil in some areas. The locals say this could lead to accidents.

The construction of the 2.3 km road from Jamarapul to the local Bus Park is currently underway. With a budget of Rs 200 million, the six-lane road is being constructed by Raman KS JV.

 
• Tikapur
 
• road
 
• construction