Fuel crisis hampers construction work

Pokhara, December 7

Shortage of fuel and construction materials has adversely affected development work in Kaski this fiscal following the Tarai unrest and blockade at Nepal-India border points.

While works on development projects that were launched last fiscal have been halted after fuel and construction materials like steel and cement went scarce, the projects that were to start this fiscal have failed to kickstart.

According to Division Road Office Kaski Engineer Indra Prasad Poudel, regular road maintenance has also been affected due to lack of fuel.

“A total of 110 new plans have been sanctioned in Kaski and Syangja districts under the road improvement project, but not a single project has started amid the current crisis facing the country,” he said, adding that seven concrete bridge projects were stalled due to the present crisis.

Building Construction and Town Development Office Pokhara Account Officer Bishnu Baral also lamented the effects of the fuel crisis on the development sector.

District Treasury Office Kaski Chief Keshav Dhakal presented data showing meagre capital expenditure in the current fiscal. “So far, only nine per cent of the capital expenditure has been used, that too for the purchase of computers, furniture and other items,” Dhakal informed.

On average, Kaski spends Rs 1.25 billion and five billion rupees under capital expenditure and current expenditure respectively in a fiscal year.