363 development projects abandoned halfway

Published On: May 26, 2018 09:30 AM NPT By: Bishan Kshetri


POKHARA, May 26: The contract for the construction of the Baglung-based Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital was signed in fiscal year 2008/2009. As per the contract, this project which was undertaken by the Building Division Office (BDO) should have been completed by July 2012. Even the extended deadline of the project expired in June 2016. Despite extending the deadline time and again, the building has not yet been completed.

Similarly, the Soti River Bridge project commissioned on July 13, 2011 has made no progress at all until now. This project which is under Road Division Office, Damauli, remains halted for the past six years. Likewise, it has been six years since the agreement for the Sanga River Project of Gharpajong Rural Municipality was signed. This project falls under the Beni-Jomsom-Korola road project. As per the deadline, this project should be completed by September 6, 2018.

There are so many other projects in Nepal which have been abandoned halfway citing various problems. Recently, the Physical Infrastructure and Development Ministry of Province 4 made a list of such projects which have not been completed. The ministry has instructed the authorities concerned to complete the projects soon.

The ministry publicized a notice urging the chiefs of the division offices, construction businessmen and contractors to study the current situation of the projects, find the reason behind their delay and make efforts for their immediate implementation.

Ram Saran Basnet, the provincial Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Development informed Republica that Prakash Aryal, chief of the Building Division Office, Baglung, construction businessmen Shital Chandra Bhattarai, Shiva Poudel as well as contractors Ranjan Joshi and Rabin Kumar Joshi were called for a meeting on April 27 and were instructed to speed up the projects. "We have not been able to make satisfactory progress in these projects, so we have urged the responsible authorities to complete the projects as per the deadline," said Basnet.

The provincial ministry has listed the problematic projects of all 11 districts of Province 4. As per the details of the ministry, the projects commissioned before fiscal year 2013/14 have been listed in the list of problematic projects. As many as eight road projects under the District Technical Office have been marked problematic.

Likewise, the progress in the construction of bridges is equally disappointing. Altogether 18  bridges have been marked problematic by the ministry. As many as 26 programs under road division office are in this list. Furthermore, 254 projects under the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department commissioned before the fiscal year 2013/14 and with less than 15% progress have been included in this list too.

Bharat Prasad Aryal, Secretary at the ministry said that these projects are expected to gather pace now as the responsible authorities have been informed. "We have provided them with best suggestions," said Aryal, adding, "We will be taking necessary action against those who won't work to speed up the projects from now onward."  

 


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