Dolakha, January 28

Divisional Road Office, Dolakha, has not paid Rs 220 million that it owes to several contractors for the construction of roads in Dolakha and Sindhupalchok districts.

Chief at Dolakha divisional road office Ashok Tiwari said contractors visited the office daily with requests to release their due amount. “We have demanded the payable amount from the finance ministry through the Department of Roads,” he said. Payments since the beginning of this fiscal were to be made, he added. According to Tiwari, about a month ago, the contractors had padlocked the road office demanding release of the amount due. The amount was due in the name of 10 companies.

On the other hand, the contractor companies have not paid their workers as they have not received their payments from the division road office. Site in-charge of one contractor company Tej Bahadur Bhujel said his company has yet to pay bills for construction materials used in constructing roads. He said the road division office owed Rs 40 million to his company.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson at Department of Roads Mukti Gautam, said they were holding discussion with the ministry of finance on release of the amount due soon.