KATHMANDU: The government-funded Dhobikhola Corridor Improvement Project (DCIP) has allegedly been borrowing money from other government offices to pay salary to its staffers for the past two years. Only seven out of the total 21 employees are currently working under the project. According to the DCIP, the ministry had issued Rs 29 million in the last couple of years. “However, not a single penny has been allocated for the staff salary since December 17, 2007,” said Dr Bhai Kaji Tiwari, project manager adding that the monthly expenses for staff salaries stood at Rs 100,000. Tiwari said that they borrowed money from the Kathmandu Valley City Development Committee for the payment of salaries. “It shows the pathetic condition of the government owned project,” he said. The present staffs include project manager, two engineers, two sub-engineers, a public relation officer, a computer operator and an office assistant. A 5.3km Dhobikhola corridor road construction project to link Chabahil ring road to the Bagmati River had started seven years ago. No progress was made with the project due to the lack of coordination among the concerned authorities. Only 1.6km section of the road has been constructed. The DCIP under the KVCDC, which began in April 17, 2002, was scheduled to be completed by 2008. “We have borrowed money for the payment of salaries on condition that we would repay the amount,” Tiwari said. The Rs 2.58 billion project is the joint venture of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, the DCIP and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.