Siraha, August 5

The 390 metres long drain built from Thanachowk to Mirchaiya Bazaar in Mirchaiya Municipality, Siraha, has developed cracks and a section of it has collapsed due to the use of substandard construction materials.

Of the total length,a 100-metre section has collapsed unable to withstand a normal flow of water.

Rukesh Sah, a local, said cracks appeared on the sewer after rainfall.

“The sewer was constructed to carry off drainage water but it has gone dysfunctional,” Sah said. He claimed that poor quality materials were used in collusion with municipality staffs and Shree Shakti Construction Service, the contracting company.

The municipality had invested Rs 3.8 million for its construction.

Anjay Sah, a local journalist, said development activities in the district were adversely affected due to the tendency

of the municipality and contracting firms to start work at the eleventh hour and misappropriate fund.

Rajendra Karki, executive officer at the municipality however, said the drainage system was built under the supervision of technicians from the municipality. “We did everything to ensure quality but the drain collapsed,” Karki added.

Rakesh Kumar Sah, an engineer at the municipality, said excessive water flow caused the drain to crack and collapse.

Another sewer constructed at Mirchaiya Municiplaity-5 along the east-west highway has also collapsed before it came into operation.

The 175 metres long drain was built at a cost of Rs 3.4 million. Of the total length of the drain, a  50 meters section has collapsed.

Drain Users’ Committee Secretary Dinesh Sah said that the committee would consult the District Coordination Committee, Lahan, for its reconstruction.