Contractors delay road work despite taking advance payment
DANG, JUN 24 -
Even after taking advance payment, contractors have not started work on 10 road projects in Rukum, Salyan and Dang districts.
Following road users’ protests, the Mid-Western Road Division Office-2 on Wednesday issued a public notice in the name of the contractors warning of a legal action. The office asked them to clarify why they didn’t start work even as the fiscal year is nearing end.
The contractors are DS Siddhi Sai JV, Sunaulo Khimti, Juddha and Purna Nirman Sewa, Mahadev Khimti Nirman Sewa, Vijay Builders Nirman Sewa, Jay Guru Nirman Sewa, Maulik Constructions, Surya Rabin JV and Galba MSO JV Nirman Sewa.
Engineer Parashmani Hamal at the Road Division Office said the office issued the notice after the contractors ignored its repeated follow-ups. The notice has warned that the contractors would face action as per the Public Procurement Act and contract conditions.
The contractors had received advance payments worth Rs 60 million after signing the contracts in April.
After the notice, a few contractors have mobilised their construction equipment at the construction site, while some have complained about non-cooperation from road user groups.
The construction work has not started in access road to Rolpa Cement factory site; Bairagi Thati- Kaiyo khola-Nuwakot Danda-Lauhrebari of Rukum; Bijauri danda of Dang, Mahat of Rukum; access road to Dang Cement factory Site; and Salyan Khalanga-Marke-Kalimati-Rampur-Kalche-Damdubali-Kharkabari road.
Other projects awaiting the construction work to begin are Dhorchaur-Uchalne-Mulkhola-Nathkhola of Salyan; road connecting Kapurkot of Salyan to Jinabang of Rolpa, Bijouri Malwar of Dang; road connecting Rarechaur Farusilingi of Salyan to Nuwakot Chaurjhari of Rukum; and Bairagithanti Kaiyokhola-Nuwakot Danda-Silingi Kholagaun- Chaurjhaari raod.
Dalbahadur BK, a member of the road users’ committee in Rukum, said despite the allocation of millions of rupees, the budget is being frozen due to delay in starting construction work. “As construction work has not started yet, there is hardly any possibility that the work will begin now,” he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
