Submit your Article

The upgrade of the Sanfebagar-Mellekh (Sanfe-Nandegada-Mellekh-Shodsha-Rishidah) road has been stalled for five months, with the contractor out of contact. The responsibility for upgrading the 10-kilometer stretch was awarded to Nati Construction Pvt Ltd, based in Imadol, Lalitpur. 

The company signed an agreement with the Infrastructure Development Office, Achham, on 20 June 2022, to complete the project by 28 June 2024, including VAT. Engineer Dipendra Thapa of the Infrastructure Development Office said the road upgrade is part of a phased plan by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the Sudurpaschim Province.

The deadline was first extended to 13 Jan 2025, and a request for a second extension has been submitted to the ministry. “The work was not completed by the agreed deadline. The contractor claimed he was unable to proceed due to a lack of funds,” said Engineer Thapa. He added that some drainage work on the Ashar section of the road may help prevent further damage during heavy rainfall.

The road upgrade includes drainage construction and gravel layering. According to the Infrastructure Development Office, the contractor has so far received Rs 91.576m. The remaining amount is Rs 41.233m. Accounts Officer Nayan Bahadur Budha reported disbursed payments of Rs 43.785m in 2022/23, Rs 31.127m in 2023/24, and Rs 15.978m in 2024/25.

Jang Bahadur Thapa, head of the Infrastructure Development Office, Achham, confirmed there is no budget shortfall for the project. “The contractor keeps saying he lacks funds to continue the work. We’ve repeatedly requested that he resume the project, and the process of deadline extension is underway,” he said.

Sanfebagar Municipality Mayor Rajendra Bahadur Kunwar said several projects in the region are in disarray due to contractor negligence. “Despite repeated extensions, contractors abandon work mid-way and fail to respond. With the onset of the monsoon, under-construction roads have become even riskier,” he said. “This year’s rainy season is expected to be intense, increasing the risk of floods and landslides due to poorly managed roads.” The public information board placed along the Sanfe-Mellekh road is incomplete, with no mention of the project’s total cost or budget details.

A wild elephant has been found dead in a maize field near the Kaushiki Community Forest at Brahakshetra of Sunsari.

Brahakshetra Municipality Mayor Ramesh Karki said that locals informed them about the incident in the morning today.

According to Karki, it is a male elephant that is around five to seven years old. The cause of the elephant's death is not known.

The District Forest Office, Sunsari, along with the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve team, is investigating the cause of the elephant's death, said Mayor Karki.

Vehicles will be able to operate along the flyover at Gwarko in Lalitpur after four days.

With the completion of the main structure of the flyover, the Department of Roads is now preparing for the operation of vehicles, said Deep Barahi, the head of the Quality Research and Development Center.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the flyover on June 20.

Last Saturday, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, along with the officials of the Department of Roads, carried out a field inspection and gave instructions to prepare for the operation of vehicles.

After the construction of the main structure, the placement of lane separators, lining, and other works have been completed, making it possible for vehicles to operate.

The 11th Chure Conservation Day is being observed today by organizing various programmes.

The Day is being observed to mark the establishment of President Chure-Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Committee.

The main function was organized in Kawaswoti of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) in the presence of President Ram Chandra Paudel today.

It may be noted that the Committee was established in 2079 BS aiming at contributing to poverty alleviation through natural resource conservation, sustainable management and ecosystem protection in Chure.

Since its establishment, the Committee has reported that it has worked to control landslides, streams and gully in 1,459 locations, expand multi-year crops over 166 hectares of steep agrarian land, run a greenery promotion programme over 5,230 hectares, and produce and distribute 2.93 million saplings.

Furthermore, it has constructed 412 kilometers of riverbank walls, established 162 hectares of green belts, and or restored 139 wetland ponds, built rainwater collection ponds, and conserved 548 water sources.

Additionally, nearly 1.5 billion rupees have been spent in the name of Chure conservation. The Committee has spent 14.96 billion rupees up to the fiscal year 2080-81.

The Committee having its central office in Lalitpur has been working throughout the country by setting up programme implementation units in Salakpur, Janakpur, Chitwan, Butwal, and Lamki.