KATHMANDU, AUGUST 13

The Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) has commenced its third phase of protest today.

As part of their planned movement, a team of federation members, led by FCAN President Ravi Singh, padlocked the office of Department of Roads (DoR) in Chakupat, and another team led by Senior Vice-President Ang Dorji Lama padlocked the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI) in Jawalakhel.

During the protest at the DWRI, the police intervened and temporarily detained 50 protestors, including FCAN Senior Vice-President Lama.

During the sit-in protest, FCAN President Singh emphasised that the construction industry is on the verge of collapse due to government's indifference. He highlighted the lack of coordination among government agencies as a major contributing factor to the problems plaguing the industry. He clarified that the federation's demands aim to benefit the entire construction industry of the country rather than focusing solely on contractors.

The FCAN president further explained that the third phase of the protest was initiated because the government had not addressed the legitimate demands of the contractors. After the protest at the DoR, President Singh's team demanded the immediate release of construction workers who were detained in front of the Police Circle, Jawalakhel, which then led to their release.

The contractors have been protesting since July 30, advocating for 10 key points, including compensation for completed projects, extensions for ongoing projects, price adjustments, contractor-friendly regulations, and the establishment of a high-level negotiation team to engage with their demands.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.