GAIGHAT, MARCH 6
Rural electrification work has been left in the lurch in Khotehang Rural Municipality and Diprung Chuichumcha Rural Municipality, Khotang.
Negligence on the part of Contractor company Ajima-Marin Chandra Kumari Thapa JV Kathmandu has delayed rural electrification expansion project in the two rural municipalities.
A contract was signed with Thapa JV company for electricity expansion in Likuwapokhari and Bapluwa of Khotehang Rural Municipality and Sachhita Pokhari and Chhitapokhari of Diprung Chichumcha Rural Municipality at a cost of Rs 11 million on 28 February, 2022.
As per the contract, the project for electricity expansion was scheduled to finish on 4 July 2022.
The contractor company has received wires, poles and transformers from Nepal Electricity Authority Distribution Centre, Diktel, but work is yet to begin.
"NEA Distribution Centre provided all appliances and tools for electrification, but the contractor company has not started work yet," said NEA Khotang Chief Bijayraj Poudel.
The NEA sought written clarification twice, and the contractor company had agreed to finish the work by mid-February, 2023. The contractor company, however, has gone out of contact.
Utility poles and transformers are gathering dust at the construction sites due to delay in the electrification work. Due to negligence, the NEA, Diktel, has written to the concerned bank to freeze the security deposits.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 7, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
