Charikot, June 20

The government is yet to pay Rs 580 million to 10 contractors, including those who have finished their tasks and those who are carrying on with development projects in Dolakha, at a time when it has declared it will take action against those who have not completed their tasks within the stipulated date.

Division Road Office Dolakha Chief Ashok Tiwari said his office was yet to clear the due amount of Rs 580 million to contractors who were entrusted with road construction and repairs in various parts of Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk. The office has to pay amounts ranging from Rs 5 million to Rs 49 million. The contractors have padlocked the office time and again demanding their dues.

Tiwari said they were unable to clear dues for want of budget. “We have long been demanding the budget from the Division of Road but the road division has been unable to pay because the ministry of finance hasn’t issue the budget,” said Tiwari. The contractors have not paid their workers as the office has not paid the contractors.

“As we have not been able to clear the bills of construction materials and pay our staff, we are not in a position to continue with the construction, we are also not able to take contracts for the new fiscal due to fund crunch,” regretted Mahalaxmi Construction Concern Pvt Ltd site In-charge Tej Bahadur Bhujel. Division of Road spokesperson Mukti Gautam said the dues would be cleared soon as the Division of Road was holding discussion with the ministry.

Meanwhile, District Administration Office Dolakha has recommended action against 22 contractors for not completing their task on time, as per Chief District Officer Sagar Mani Pathak. Dolakha Construction Entrepreneurs’’ Association argued that construction was getting delayed due to the government body.